A downtown Galesburg demolition project nearly 10 years in the making is finally underway and near completion.
Neidig Trucking & Excavating of Astoria started demolition of the fire-damaged buildings 140-144 E. Main St. on Monday. Cleanup work at the site continued Wednesday morning.
The two-story building was empty when a fire destroyed its interior on April 8, 2014. The City of Galesburg has pursued several legal attempts to have the building razed since the fire. In December 2019, the city purchased the property from the Knox County Trustee for approximately $1,700.
Steve Gugliotta, director of Community Development, tells WGIL the city worked with local architect firm Klingner & Associates to determine the best way to raze the property that sat between occupied businesses to the east (156 East Restaurant) and west (Merle Norman Studio).
Originally constructed in the 1890s, the building housed a grocery store, shoe shop and several bakeries over the years. CASA of Knox County also operated out of the building until it moved to the Bondi Building in 2012.
Gugliotta noted the west wall of 140 E. Simmons St. is a shared wall with the Merle Norman building. Klingner also designed the structural work necessary to stabilize the wall prior to the demolition beginning.
The City, Klingner and the adjacent property owners on both sides met on a number of occasions to discuss the project, and according to Gugliotta, all came to an understanding that was approved through agreements approved by all parties.
“Every effort was made to minimize business interruption and still ensure safety during demolition,” Gugliotta said.
In August 2023 the City Council approved hiring Neidig Trucking & Excavating to do the demolition for an amount not to exceed $332,370.
Gugliotta said in the short term, the property will be seeded and remain a grass lot, but will be available if a developer should propose a viable project.
“It’s been an eyesore for 10 years, so we’re just looking forward to see what happens to the property,” said Toni Ponder, owner of Merle Norman Studio. “We purchased our building 8 years ago, and we’ve been anticipating this day to get here.”
Merle Norman has been close since demo started Monday, however Ponder anticipates being able to re-open Thursday. To prepare for the demo, Ponder said they had to remove glass shelving and items from the wall in the boutique and spa areas.
Ponder said she hopes to bring a mural to the side of her building once demo and cleanup is complete.
Neighboring 156 East closed when demo got underway Monday morning but has remained open for business since Monday afternoon.
The status of the fire-damaged property across the street at 149-151 E. Main St. remains in limbo, according to city officials. The city is awaiting a determination from the insurance company of the property owner on whether the 3-story building will demolished or be saved to some degree.
