Construction firm chosen for historic Manor House project

Jerdon Construction of South Whitehall Township will transform the Historic Manor House Inn into the home of Molinari Oswald LLC, a Certified Public Accounting firm.

The project, announced in December, did not have a construction firm until now.

The building dates to the 1740s, when it was established as a colonial tavern at 4508 Old Bethlehem Pike in Upper Saucon Township. According to a news release, the tavern was known as the Bald Eagle Inn, The Eagle Hotel in the early 1900s, Inn of the Unicorn from 1972-1985 and The Manor House, a French restaurant that operated from 1985 until it closed in 2015.

Ron Jerdon, president, said his firm will perform interior renovation for the 8,700-square-foot structure. The design includes 20 offices, break room, work room and several conference rooms with Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility on the first floor.

One of the main dining rooms will contain a conference room that features an original fireplace.

Construction is set to begin in early March and continue through September. The design is being finalized, and Jerdon is awaiting permits.

MKSD architects of South Whitehall Township designed the project.

The age of the building and some of the interior elements make the project atypical. The exterior will look similar to what it is now, he said.

Molinari Oswald, a firm in Upper Saucon Township, will move from a building in the Stabler Corporate Center into the historic site.

Molinari Oswald, which owns the Manor House, will be the sole tenant of the three-story building and will occupy the first two floors. The third floor is difficult to access, Jerdon added.

The firm has 14 employees and is looking to expand to 20 employees next year.

“It’s an interesting building with a lot of history; the location is good,” said Dan Oswald, partner of Molinari Oswald. “It’s a challenge, but we think they [MKSD and Jerdon] are going to do a great job for us.”

Final permitting for demolition is taking place as some walls need to be moved and a new stairway installed, he said.

“We are trying to make it as functional as possible,” Oswald said.

Source: LVB.com