The Tamaqua Area Community Partnership is seeking bids for the demolition of five properties near the borough’s downtown.

The leveled ground will be used as a parking area for a new borough police station and community center at the former Moose building, 133 E. Broad St.

During a meeting this week, the Tamaqua Borough Council issued certificates of appropriateness for the work. The certificates were approved April 4 by the Tamaqua Historical Architectural Review Commission and submitted to council for its review.

According to a legal advertisement submitted to the Times News, the partnership is seeking sealed bids for demolition of four properties between 25 and 33 Mauch Chunk St., and another at 10 Pine St.

Electronic files of the drawings and specifications will be available to prospective bidders from Phillips and Donovan Architects LLC beginning April 26. Bidders must also attend a mandatory meeting on May 3.

Bids are due by 2 p.m. May 10 and will be opened privately shortly thereafter, according to the legal advertisement.

The partnership purchased the Mauch Chunk Street properties in December and the Pine Street property a few weeks later. It took ownership of the former Moose building in February.

Micah Gursky, executive director of the partnership, recently told HARC members that there was some “urgency” in leveling the Mauch Chunk Street properties.

“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.

Preliminary project plans include a carport, secure entrance and 36-space parking lot.