WESTFIELD—A winning bid has been chosen for the demolition of the former Romani’s Bowling Alley site on Church Street.
The Westfield Redevelopment Authority (WRA) voted last Friday to allow the city’s purchasing agent to award the contract for demolition to the lowest bidder, Springfield-based Associated Building Wreckers. The company was one of five who provided qualified bids. According to Joe Mitchell, city advancement coordinator for Westfield, the demolition is expected to begin within the next two weeks, though no date has been set yet.
The interior sign of the Romani’s Bowling Alley set for demolition on Church Street, formerly owned by the Romani family. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Mitchell said that Associated Building Wreckers put in a bid for $138,370, which was almost $40,000 lower than estimated.
“Out of five qualified this was the lowest bid,” Mitchell said. “It was estimated at $175,000, that is using prevailing wage and that includes hazardous material removal, i.e. asbestos.”
Elm Street Urban Renewal (WNG file photo)
According to Mitchell, both the company and the city are anxious to move forward on the project.
The Romani’s Bowling Alley location is at 11 and 13 Church St., has been owned by the Romani family for decades and compensation for the property was to come from WRA, according to a previous story in The Westfield News.
The WRA has been seeking this as part of the Elm Street Renewal Plan since February, when they voted to exercise eminent domain on these properties and others. The site was chosen to potentially become an eventual mixed-use building and parking garage.
