A property located next to its fire company has been razed with the space to be used as additional parking.

Borough Manager Donna McGarry noted that the homes at 509-511 Lehigh Ave. were knocked down on Thursday.

McGarry said the extra space will serve the need for additional parking for the Palmerton Fire Department.

“It will be used for the fire department parking for the members; a parking lot for the time being,” McGarry said. “I don’t know if there’s going to be any future development of it, but it will be focused on use for the fire department.”

McGarry said the contractor began the demolition process on Monday.

“The contractor, he really was on board every day; we had things lined up, the dumpsters to take things away,” she said. “It went very well.”

In September, borough council approved a quote in the amount of $17,950 to demolish 509-511 Lehigh Ave.

In 2012, the borough decided to purchase the homes at 509-511 Lehigh Ave. to increase the lot size as per the fire company’s recommendation.

Along with Palmerton, Lehighton and Jim Thorpe received a combined $300,000 in state funding to address blighted properties in their respective towns.

Approved in May, the money came courtesy of the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Blight Remediation Program and was approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

Jim Thorpe applied for the funding on behalf of the three municipalities. According to the application, $118,853 is proposed for use on any of five properties in Jim Thorpe listed for reconstruction/rehabilitation, $181,147 toward the demolition of a Lehighton property, Palmerton duplex structure and Jim Thorpe residence.

With local and private match, $32,326 is allocated to renovations, and $24,708 toward demolition for a total program budget of $354,390.

The proposed demolition sites include 509-511 Lehigh St. in Palmerton, 209 N. First St. in Lehighton, and 204 Center Ave. in Jim Thorpe.

Proposed rehabilitation/reconstruction sites, all in Jim Thorpe, are 82 E. Third St., 56 W. Broadway, 109 North Ave., 112 North Ave., and 209 Center Ave.

In September, Jim Thorpe Borough Council approved the Blight Remediation Grant engineering proposal for 204 Center Ave., Jim Thorpe; engineering proposal for 209 N. First St., Lehighton; and demolition quotes for 509-511 Lehigh Ave., Palmerton.

On Monday, Lehighton Borough Council agreed to advertise for bids to demolish the building at 209 N. First St.