A long-awaited blight remediation project in Jim Thorpe borough will cost $134,000 according to a bid awarded by council Thursday night.

Council awarded the project, which includes demolition of a deteriorated home at 204 Center Ave. and remediation of neighboring 206 Center Ave., to Hadley Construction Inc.

“We’re very happy to be moving this project forward,” Council President Greg Strubinger said after the vote.

Borough manager Maureen Sterner said the construction company would receive its notice to proceed today and a pre-construction meeting would be held on Dec. 18.

“As of now, construction commencement is set for Jan. 6 with substantial completion by Feb. 3 and final completion by Feb. 14,” Sterner said. “Of course, we can’t control Mother Nature, but those are the plans at this point.”

Barbara Gonclaves, who was determined to be one of the owners of 204 Center Ave., signed a stipulation earlier this year, amid pending litigation by the borough, paving the way to tear down the home and stabilize the home next door.

The home at 204 Center Ave. was slated to be torn down using part of a combined state grant the municipality partnered with Palmerton and Lehighton boroughs to receive in 2021.

Sterner said earlier this year there was over $100,000 remaining for Jim Thorpe to use from that grant. The borough also pledged just under $39,500 in matching funds for that grant, which will go toward the project.

The total project cost when factoring in engineering work, Strubinger said, comes to $151,875.

History

Since 2013, 204 Center Ave. has been the subject of violations of the Jim Thorpe International Property Maintenance Code.

A notice of violations had been given to the prior owner of the property, Irene A. Dever and, in 2017, the borough filed a civil complaint against Dever, according to borough solicitor James Nanovic.

The relief requested in the complaint was to remove the “great deal of debris, junk and personal property in the property.”

Dever did not take any action to address the violations of the property maintenance code.

The property, Nanovic said, was later sold for taxes and purchased by Ronald Spiegel LLC, which subsequently conveyed the property by a deed dated March 2, 2020, to the current LLC.

A memorandum from Barry Isett and Associates Inc. to the borough in 2018 outlined structural assessment concerns for the vacant Jim Thorpe home.

The report noted “a severe deterioration of the roof, siding, interior finishes, and structural elements due to long-term exposure to weather and lack of maintenance.”

Specific issues include a “roof and roof deck collapsed and severely deteriorated, front porch roof and siding deteriorated with visible water stains, windows broken or displaced and framing rotted, organic growth and moisture damage throughout the interior, and structural elements like wood joists and foundations severely deteriorated.”

A reassessment in February 2024 showed “continued deterioration and collapse of the roof and floors, with significant exposure to the elements. The condition of the property has worsened, confirming the need for prompt demolition to prevent further collapse.”

Neighbors

The project will require remediation to the home at 206 Center Ave., which shares a common wall with the property set to be demolished.

Borough resident Patricia Spillman organized a GoFundMe fundraiser online that raised $2,000 to support storage costs for the residents of 206 Center Ave.

“In preparation for the demolition of 204 Center Ave., the residents of 206 will have to vacate many of their belongings,” Spillman said in announcing the fundraiser. “They have a place for themselves to stay during the demolition, but they need to remove the basement and attic at least, if not more. I would like to lighten that burden on them. I have already rented a storage unit and would also like to provide a dumpster. I estimated a 6-month rental.”