Former Social Security
building up for auction

The federal government will hold an online auction on July 26 for the former Social Security Building at 7959 Bustleton Ave. in Rhawnhurst.
The auction’s end date will be based on the bidding, which will be conducted in $25,000 increments.
Deposits of $100,000 in certified or cashier’s checks or by credit card are required. The balance, in cash, will be due 60 days later. An inspection of the 17,000-square-foot property will take place on Wednesday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
To create an account to bid, visit www.auctionrp.com
The government closed the Bustleton Avenue office at the end of May and relocated operations to a building at 2375 Welsh Road. That site housed a General Cinema Co. movie theater that closed in 2000 and was damaged by fire in 2004.
By law, the federal government gives surplus property to municipalities for free. The city indicated that it wanted to use the space for homeless administrative services. However, the Rhawnhurst Civic Association opposed that idea. The city twice failed to apply for the property by a deadline, and the federal government decided to sell it. The city could join the bidding.
State Rep. John Perzel and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum unsuccessfully lobbied the government to use the building for a variety of criminal justice-related services. ••
For pictures and more information, visit http://propertydisposal.gsa.gov/property