Article date: June 23, 2001

By Mary Jordan

For the first time in decades, new construction is taking place at the Avtex Superfund site.

According to Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority Executive Director Stephen Heavener, construction has not taken place at Avtex since the 1960s or 1970s.

Construction on the roof of the administration building began last week. On Friday, the EDA awarded a contract to a Maryland based company for the replacement of the windows.

K.C. Cassidy Co. of Beltsville, Md., was awarded the contract for its total bid of $152,725. K.C. Cassidy had previously been the only company to submit a bid to the EDA at $221,882.

After receiving bids from a few more companies, K.D. Cassidy was awarded the bid after dropping its estimated price. The two other bids received by the EDA were for $175,000 and $220,658.

The EDA said the entire project should take 90 days once the company is given notice to proceed.

Construction on the roof is being completed by Manassas based Simpson Unlimited, which gave the lowest base bid of $115,820. Other bids ranged from $116,777 to$124,384.

The new window specifications for the administration building must meet the renovation standards set forth by the U.S. Interior Department’s standards for historic rehabilitation.

In addition, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources requires that the windows adhere to the historical standards of the building.

Heavener said the EDA expects to move into the new administration building by January or February.

Also at Friday’s meeting, the EDA discussed the "Skyline Demolition Project." Heavener has said the project was previously delayed in order for the EDA to "perform the historic preservation compliance."

The Department of Historic Resources had told the EDA that it was worried about the significance of the structures. However, after negotiations with the department, Heavener said they now expect the demolition project to take place by mid-to late July.

The demolition will include two 2-million gallon oil storage tanks, five 10,000 to 15,000 gallon water tanks, a single elevated water tank, a coal storage shed, a baghouse smokestack, and power house stacks.

Envircon Inc. of Aston Pa., will perform the demolition.