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This property on Bay St., formerly used by Roy's Towing, will be demolished as part of a larger city effort to reduce blight.

(File photo / Don Treeger)

SPRINGFIELD - Associated Building Wreckers of Springfield has won the contract to demolish blighted buildings on seven residential and business properties in the city including two industrial sites on Bay Street.

Associated Building Wreckers submitted the low bids on the sites including the former Roy's Towing Used Auto Parts at 876 Bay St., and the former Cohen Bros. Metals Recycling facility at 846 Bay St. The city took ownership of the two sites for nonpayment of taxes.

There were also various residential properties.

"The demolition of these buildings is a priority for our residents and businesses and is another part of our concentrated efforts to eliminate blight in our neighborhoods," Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said.

The city combined the Bay Street industrial properties as a single project for interested bidders, with Associated providing the low bid of $183,000, among four bids received. There are a total of three blighted buildings on the two sites with demolition required down to the concrete slabs along with the removal of two trailers and two boats, according to the bid guidelines.

Associated Building Wreckers also submitted the low bids for 17 Sheridan Lane ($18,275); and 14 Dresden St. ($41,820); and 22-24 Medford St. ($61,284); and 124 Norfolk St. ($24,980).

A second company, Jay-Mor Enterprises, Inc., of Hudson, N.H., submitted the low bid to demolish an eighth property on the city's bid list at 399 Orange St., for $56,990.

Other bidders were Standard Demolition Services of Trumbull, Conn.; and J.R. Vinagro Corp., of Johnston, R.I.

The city is funding the demolition work. Some of the properties were privately owned, but the city obtained court orders for demolition, and will attach liens to recover costs, officials said.

"We're glad to see the demolition on Bay Street happen in addition to ones in other neighborhoods," said Tina Quagliato, the city's deputy director of neighborhood stabilization. "The Bay Street sites have been an ongoing issue for quite some time."

The contract for demolition includes advance removal of asbestos and other hazardous materials, Quagliato said.

Once demolition is completed, the city will explore its options for the city-owned sites, she said.