Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
A number of development representatives working on projects were present at the Monday evening’s Bristol Borough Council work session.
Fred Baumgarten of the Grundy Commons complex came forward at the meeting to present the plans for the old Grundy Powerhouse building. The historic building is identifiable throughout the borough by the large smokestack that rises above the main structure.
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Baumgarten’s plan includes tearing down the powerhouse and replacing it with a parking lot that would add 60 parking spots in the vicinity of the Grundy Commons.
The plan is to tear down the smokestack first. There will be no explosions to take down the building on smokestack, according to Baumgarten.
“I couldn’t be happier to see this go down,” said Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe.
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Councilman Dave Girard does not share DiGuiseppe’s sentiment. “I think Bristol Borough will really miss this building,” he said.
The building has sat vacant for 34 years and is now irreparable, according to Baumgarten, who bought the structure for the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority last year.
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The council will vote on the plan to demolish the 180-foot-tall smokestack at next Monday’s meeting.
If approved, the building could be down before summer.
A representative from Auto Zone was at the meeting, outlining a plan for the chain’s new location at Commerce Circle.
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In addition to developers giving outlines for future projects, the meeting became a forum for discussing the recent sewer and water authority bill increase. At one point, a man who caused a disturbance during the council’s discussion was escorted out of the room by police Chief Arnold Porter.
The Bristol Borough Sewer Authority will be meeting on Wednesday, February 3 at 7:30 p.m. to give a presentation on the increase to customers’ bill.
