WILKES-BARRE— Bdaric Excavating's bid to demolish the Hotel Sterling beat the rest of the 13 bids submitted, Wilkes-Barre officials announced today.
Kurt Sauer, Wilkes-Barre's director of community development, announced the bids this morning at City Hall, 40 E. Market St. Bdaric Excavating of Luzerne estimated that it would cost $419,000 to raze the building. That's $2,000 less than the second lowest bid and $67,000 less than the lowest bid submitted last summer.
Owner John Bdaric said being a local company gave him a competitive edge.
"We own a storm quarry, (and) we have all the fill material and site for dumping the bricks," Bdaric said. "The rest will go to the landfill, and the steel will go to the scrap yard."
Sauer said the city's attorneys will review the bids and he will meet with the contractor to ensure the plan meets the city's specification before the contract is officially awarded.
If awarded the contract, Bdaric estimated it would take around 30 days to bring the building down and another 30 days to clean the rubble.