The authority initially targeted the 18 units in the four buildings on the west side of Spearman Avenue. They are the first buildings that will be demolished for the Steel City redevelopment.

The authority and Ralph A. Falbo Inc., Pittsburgh, will raze the 100 units of public housing in Steel City and replace them with 74 new apartments, 35 higher-rate rental units and 26 homes for sale. Some of the work would be done off the Steel City site.

The first phase will involve only the current Steel City property, and residents will be moved out in three or four stages. Only a few buildings will be brought down at any one time.

Residents may move to other vacant units in Steel City, vacant units in Garster Homes or Patterson-Landay apartments, both in Farrell, or take Section 8 vouchers giving them a federal subsidy to move into privately owned apartments anywhere in the United States.

Authority employees will meet with each family to advise them of their options, and the authority will pay moving expenses.

Boosel said Wednesday the authority received three bids from moving companies who want to handle the relocations, although it appears only two have the authority to operate in Mercer County. The authority is checking with the Public Utilities Commission to verify operator rights.

The authority also has hired Jennifer Johnson, a Steel City resident, as relocation clerk at $8 an hour.