Land bank accepts demo bid for Mosaic and Munson properties
ZANESVILLE − The Muskingum County Land Reutilization Corporation, better known as the land bank, accepted a bid to demolish two blighted properties on Wednesday, the former Mosaic Tile factory on Pershing Road, and the former Munson Elementary School on Brighton Boulevard. Contracts are expected to be signed later this month, and work required to begin within 30 days of the signing.
The land bank awarded both projects to SafeCo of Dilliner, Pa. The combined cost of the two demolitions is a total of $2,158,100. That comes in under the land bank's budget of $2,470,000. "MLRC has limited cash reserves," said Andrew Roberts land bank executive director. "We will be expending $200,000 of our $400,000 reserve to cover the match from state monies" for the Mosaic demolition. And $1.85 million of the cost of that demolition will be covered by brownfield remediation money from the Ohio Department Development, which requires the $200,000 match. SafeCo's bid, which included a discount for being awarded both projects, was $1.826 million. Roberts noted the next lowest bid for Mosaic, from Raze International of Shadyside was $2,019,900. The difference of nearly $200,000, plus the state's $200,000 match would deplete the reserves, or require going into debt to cover the difference.
More:Contractors tour Munson, Mosaic properties
There is no match for state funding for the demolition of the former Munson Elementary School. The Ohio Department of Development awarded the land bank $500,000 to demolish the former school. The MCLRC also got an additional $120,000 in state brownfield remediation money for asbestos remediation. That is enough to cover SafeCo's bid of $560,000 on the remediation and demolition, and leaves room for the unexpected, Roberts said.
Once the contracts are signed, SafeCo will have nine months to complete the Mosaic project, and six months to complete the Munson project. The company was also responsible for the cleanup of the former Lear Property on Linden Avenue in Zanesville earlier this year. The project, which include removal of asbestos contaminated material, was completed on time and came in under budget, Roberts said.
Both sites will be ready for redevelopment when the buildings have been demolished. The land bank signed an agreement with Woda Cooper of Columbus to develop low-income housing on the former Munson Elementary School site. No plans have been disclosed for the former Mosaic Tile location, which covers more than 15 acres between along Pershing and Dryden roads on Zanesville's south side.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Land bank accepts demo bid for Mosaic, Munson properties
