[FONT=Verdana]The cost to demolish 20 buildings at the site of the new baseball stadium in York City came in more than $500,000 under what has been budgeted. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]That cuts back the most recent project estimate of $31.5 million, bringing costs closer to the $29.5 million raised to date for the project through private and public contributions. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]The York County Industrial Development Authority awarded Reading-based Empire Wrecking Co. a bid yesterday to demolish the properties on the Arch Street site. There were six bids ranging from Empire's bid of $411,300 to the highest bid of $879,000. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Several tenants still need to vacate the premises, but fencing around the perimeters could start going up as early as tomorrow, said Eric Menzer, vice president of Wagman Construction. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Although about $1.5 million is budgeted for demolition, Menzer said two buildings -- along with utility lines, sidewalks and roads -- were not included in the bids. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Even without those, he estimated the authority saved about $560,000 for the project. Menzer said he's not sure this indicates the rest of the project would come in under budget. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]"I don't think you can read too much into this contract savings," Menzer said. "Having said that, (this bid) is a really good thing." [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Stadium on track: [/FONT][FONT=Verdana]The project manager Blanda Nace said demolition should take about four to six weeks to complete. The authority is expected to send out bids for construction of the stadium next month and award them in mid-August. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]If demolition is completed in mid-August, Nace said, construction could be under way by the end of August, with hopes of the baseball stadium being finished by the beginning of June. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Menzer said he believes part of the reason for bids coming in lower is that asbestos work was awarded to another company, First Capital Insulation. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]By having the specialized work separated, more companies were able to bid on the demolition contracts. The more competitive the bidding process, the lower the price, he said. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]