Franklin County pulls Elks lodge into courthouse project

CHAMBERSBURG -- Demolishing buildings downtown to make way for a judicial center on North Main Street will cost about $1.3 million.

Franklin County Commissioners opened bids to demolish the former Chambersburg Trust building on Tuesday, just as a Chambersburg utility crew disconnected electric service to the building.

Commissioners also agreed on Tuesday to buy the Elks lodge at 168 Lincoln Way East for $745,000. The building is to be demolished in 2019 to make way for 100 parking spaces.

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Demolition to be done piece by piece

Demolition should begin soon after the Chambersburg Christmas parade, on Nov. 17, and be completed by Jan. 30, according to program manager John Hart. The contract for constructing the judicial center should be bid in the first quarter of 2019.

Demolition bids were within estimates for the job, according to Hart.

“It’s very good we got four bidders,” Hart said. “They’re right on track.”

The demolition includes tearing down the former Chambersburg Trust building on Memorial Square and two neighboring buildings on North Main Street – the former Lighten Up store and former Wogan’s Uniform Center. The former Sheetz convenience store at 272 N. Second St. also will be razed.

The winning contractor also will install a storm water system on the judicial center lot.

The apparent low bidder was Lycoming Supply Inc. of Williamsport with a bid of $1.27 million. Terra Technical Services of Downingtown bid just $2,000 more for the job. Morgan-Keller Construction of Frederick, Md., bid $1.7 million and Neuber Environmental Services of Phoenixville bid $1.5 million.

Commissioners could issue an intent to award as early as Thursday, as soon as county staff reviews the bids, according to Hart.

“We’re trying to move this project forward as quickly as possible,” Hart said.

Contractors first will remove asbestos and lead paint, he said.

Explosives will not be used in the demolitions because of close quarters with other buildings, including the 1865 courthouse, according to commissioners. Buildings will be taken down piece by piece.

The county is buying the construction fence that will enclose the sites because the project will last three years, Hart said.

A lane in the first block of North Main Street will be closed during some of the demolition period.

More downtown parking

King Street Church in recent weeks has been reconstructing a parking lot at the corner of North Main and East King streets.

Commissioners plan to use the Elks property for parking in late 2019. Commissioner David Keller said they are not buying into a larger parking project proposed about a year ago for the Elks lot and two other properties across the street from the Courthouse Annex at 157 Lincoln Way East. A borough consultant had suggested offices, apartments, shops and a parking lot across a quarter of a city block.

Elks leadership have approved the sale of the half acre to the county, but the local membership and national leadership must ratify the agreement, Keller said.

The county would buy the Elks lodge and rent it back to the Elks for up to six months while the fraternal order finds a new home. The club has been looking for a new location, on and off, for about 20 years.

Jim Hook,  717-262-4759

Related photos: Check out the courthouse project, from past to present to future