The Monroe County commissioners are one step closer to finishing the 701 Main St. renovation project. They have awarded the bids to four companies to begin construction.

The goal of this project is to create a new district attorney’s office in the multistoried building occupying 701 Main St. in Stroudsburg. This new space would replace the Monroe County Courthouse, which is only a block away.

According to county Administrator Greg Christine, this change of scenery has been well overdue.

“They have been in the same place for many, many years, and they have so outgrown the space they’re currently in,” Christine said. “If you go in and take a look where they are, you’d say, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe anybody could work in here, because it’s so cramped.’”

The county purchased the building a few years ago with the intent to move a number of county divisions.

The detective division of the district attorney’s office currently occupies the first floor of the building. They will also eventually move the public defender’s division to the first floor; they are currently in the design phase for that transition. Christine said that the new district attorney office will occupy the second floor in its entirety.

Bognet Inc. was awarded the bid for general construction at $218,930. Richard Pierce Inc. won the plumbing contract at $20,233.25. Wind Gap Electric won the electrical bid at $184,453. Nauman Mechanical was awarded the mechanical construction HVAC bid at $193,600. Christine said they hope to have the project finished by the end of the year.