Tamaqua’s Historical Architectural Review Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for the demolition of properties on East Mauch Chunk and Pine streets.

The leveled ground would be used as a parking lot for a new borough police station and community center at the former Moose building, 133 E. Broad St., explained Micah Gursky, executive director of the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership.

“This is one of the early steps to redevelop that area,” Gursky told the commission Monday evening.

The partnership purchased the properties at 25-33 E. Mauch Chunk St. for $210,000 in late December, and 10 Pine St. for $95,000 in early January, according to Schuylkill County property records. It purchased the former Moose building in late February for $145,000.

Gursky said preliminary plans include a carport, secure entrance and 36-space parking lot on the properties slated to be demolished.

“There is some urgency for the demolition because the Mauch Chunk Street addresses have been broken into. People have been squatting in them and there have been numerous code violations,” he said. “It’s a danger.”

Similar problems have been occurring at the 10 Pine St. site.

“We’d like to get them down because they’re a safety issue,” Gursky said.

Gursky said that while the properties are an important part of the borough’s historic district, costs to renovate them far outweigh what they would be worth.

“In addition to that financial hardship, I think we have the ability to save and use that building on Broad Street,” he said of the Moose building, which he said has been vacant for decades. “Based on the economic hardship, we are making a request for the approval of the demolition.”

Dale Freudenberger, commission chairman, asked whether the leveled land might be used for a new fire station.

“There won’t be a new fire company,” Gursky said. “Initially there was discussion of two or more of the fire companies consolidating and constructing a new fire station. The merger fell through. The funding we received us for an emergency services building and so we are going to be building a police station instead.”

The partnership received a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant for $2 million toward the project in December.

Gursky said the partnership is in the process of acquiring additional properties. He expects to appear before the commission with plans for the police station, community center and parking lots.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the certificate of appropriateness.

“It would be good to finally see that redeveloped and put back into use as a key property on Broad Street,” Freudenberger said of the Moose building.

“I can’t wait to see it,” member Tammy Swinburne added.

The certificate will go before Tamaqua Borough Council for its approval.