Economy officials say that developers have been in contact about pre-demolition work.

ECONOMY — After months of inactivity, developers are back at work preparing to demolish a portion of Northern Lights shopping center.

Borough officials said they received communications from developers this week regarding plans to demolish a portion of the shopping center along Route 65.

Economy borough Manager Randy Kunkle said that predemolition work is underway at the 64-year-old plaza.

The first of several buildings was razed last February, but no further work was completed in 2018. In 2017, developer PZ Northern submitted five demolition permits to the borough, outlining plans to demolish the upper right portion of the shopping plaza, near the former Ames location. According to those permits, the demolition is expected to cost $485,000.

New Sewickley Township-based Iron City Excavating, owned by Economy councilman R.J. Burns, has done all of the demolition work at the site. The building perpendicular to the former Ames building, along the southern side of the plaza, was torn down. There has been asbestos removal from several of the buildings, something Kunkle said is required before additional demolition work can be completed.

The shopping center once housed nearly 70 storefronts in its more than 475,000-square-foot space. Now, the majority of retail space is left vacant with broken windows and sidewalks. Portions of the parking lot are littered with potholes and have been partitioned off from use for more than a year.

The condition of the property has been an ongoing issue with Economy council, whose members have expressed frustration with the stall in demolition. According to council meeting minutes, assistant code enforcement officers have been in contact with PZ Northern to discuss violations and issues at the site during the fall.