Brackenridge officials eyeing new public works building

A long sought-after upgrade to the Brackenridge public works facilities could become reality within the next year or so, as the borough looks to build a new maintenance building.

Council is expected to apply for a $400,000 state grant made available through gambling revenues. A new building is expected to cost about $700,000.

Borough engineer Gordon Taylor said the borough previously received $300,000 through the state to help cover construction.

“We’ve been working on this for years. This goes back pre-covid,” council President Tim Connelly said. “We don’t have a lot of business in the borough, so it’s tough to put the money up. It would be great to get this money.”

Applications are due in mid-March.

Connelly estimated the building, originally the pump house for the water plant, dates to 1900. The floor is caving in spots, he said.

“The building they have is ancient,” Taylor said. “It’s just in bad shape.”

For a long time, there were two buildings. One recently was demolished because it outlived its usefulness.

If funding is acquired, a new building would be constructed on the same property as the existing one, at the corner of Reservoir Street and Prospect Avenue.

“You keep applying for these grants because you don’t get them all the time,” Connelly said.

“This is a big one for us.”