After months of waiting and speculation, the Bradford Airport
Authority is slated to officially sign documents paving the way for
the development of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard armory on
airport grounds.

On Thursday, the last day for comments to be provided to the
National Register in Washington concerning the changeover of the
property to non-aeuronautical use, Airport Manager Tom Frungillo
said the authority will sign off on paperwork for an agreement of
sale with the Guard.

Frungillo said a designer/builder for the project could be
selected as early as September.

“Everybody involved thinks we have left nothing uncovered,”
Frungillo said. “It’s been a long process.”

According to Frungillo, officials have told him that requests
for proposals for building the armory would go out soon after the
authority signs the paperwork.

Both Frungillo and airport engineer Ed Natusi met with
representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration and Guard
during a meeting Wednesday in Hershey.

“The FAA was happy with the way everything was done,” Frungillo
said.

The FAA and Guard went back and forth for several months
regarding whether the land would be leased or sold outright to the
Guard. The complex deal also involves the Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation’s Bureau of Aviation.

In regards to any comments provided to the National Register,
Frungillo said he heard that one was made – from a man in Richmond,
Va. – who opposes the development of all armories across the
country.

“He isn’t in favor of them because of trees getting cut down,”
Frungillo said.

Late last month, the Department of the Army, National Guard
Bureau, and Pennsylvania Army National Guard placed a final
environmental impact statement legal notice in The Era, which is
the last and most critical step in bringing the armory to airport
grounds.

The statement, which encompasses the National Guard’s 56th
Brigade’s transformation to a Stryker Brigade as part of an
overhaul of the country’s armed services, will be on display for 30
days, after which the Guard will have a green light to go forward
with the actual physical development of the armory.

Officials said previously that numerous environmental impact
studies had been completed at the proposed armory location.

When approved, the armory will be located on land near the
airport’s access road. Lafayette Township has already approved a
request for a subdivision on the property.

The armory has been slated for full funding through the U.S.
Department of Defense. The Guard requested $15 million from the
state to buy land for new armories statewide as part of the 56th
Brigade’s changeover to a new type of fighting force. The proposal
entails closing down barracks in Bradford, Ridgway and Kane.

In preparation for the armory’s arrival, the airport authority
authorized the installation of a water and sewer line extension to
the facility, which is nearly completed.

Airport officials hope the armory will help spur economic
development around the airport, with some land along the access
road already approved under the Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ)
program, which supplies limited property tax relief to businesses
locating there.