The city council Monday gave a group of local businessmen permission to demolish two blighted buildings to make way for a parking lot.
The buildings, at 213 and 215 N. Second St., are owned by a group of local businessmen who are an integral part of the Pottsville Parking Authority's Second Street Parking Project, according to city Administrator Thomas A. Palamar.
The businessmen are in the process of acquiring a few approvals to do the project, and a date for the demolition has not yet been set, Palamar said Tuesday.
"So far, there's no time frame for the demolition," Palamar said.
Amy S. Burkhart, executive director of the Pottsville Parking Authority, further confirmed that Tuesday.
The businessmen are part of a group called North Second Rehabilitation Project LLC, Pottsville. They include Patrick J. Murphy, a Pottsville jeweler and president of the Pottsville Parking Authority; Carmen DiCello, owner of Towne Drugs and Yorkville Drugs and a member of the parking authority; A. Matthew Dudish, Schuylkill County recorder of deeds; Mickey Palles, owner of The Coney Island at 2290 W. Market St., Pottsville; Stephen R. Buzalko, owner of Buzalko Properties and Buzalko Woodworking, Pottsville; and Bill Jones, president of Jones & Co., Pottsville.
The group was established in 2005. Its goal is to improve the neighborhood and bring more parking to downtown, Murphy said previously.
NSRP bought 215 N. Second St. from Michael J. Javorka in December 2005 for $25,000, according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator.
Meanwhile, 213 N. Second St. is owned by Constantin and Rodica M. Tanjala. The Tanjalas bought the property from Elwood R. Jr. and Joanne M. Henne in December 2003 for $32,000, according to the parcel locator.
The Tanjalas still owned the property as of Tuesday, according to the parcel locator and representatives of the county Recorder of Deeds and Assessment offices.
On Aug. 20, 2013, Murphy said the Tanjalas were willing to sell the property for $25,000, if the city goes along with NSRP's plan. And if $25,000 from the city's 2013 federal Community Development Block Grant is made available, the group will sell 213 and 215 N. Second St. to the Pottsville Parking Authority.
Two weeks ago, the city's Historical Architectural Review Board gave the project the green light, according to Buzalko, who is a member of HARB.
"Because those buildings are in the historic district, it had to be approved by HARB," Palamar said.
"Being on HARB, I wasn't allowed to vote on it. But I pretty much had to present the whole case," Buzalko said.
"And everything ratified by HARB still has to be approved by city council," Palamar said.
On Monday, the city council approved a resolution allowing NSRP to demolish the buildings.
On Tuesday, Palamar was writing a letter to the state Department of Community & Economic Development, Harrisburg, asking permission for NSRP to use the $25,000 in 2013 CDBG funds.
"This now has to be submitted to DCED for their review, that as well as an income analysis to make sure the parking there is affordable for people who are lower income," Palamar said.