At its November 3 meeting, the City Council approved demolition of the two additional downtown structures. Utility disconnections for these properties are now underway, and demolition activity has begun, starting on High Street. As work progresses, construction fencing will be relocated from one site to the next until all demolition is complete.
Several City-owned properties in the downtown are scheduled for demolition in the coming weeks due to their deteriorated condition and significant structural deficiencies. The four residential properties, located at 322 and 328 High Street and 435 and 441 Main Street, were acquired by the City years ago to support initiatives of the Central-Main Street Redevelopment Plan. Each has deteriorated beyond reasonable repair and poses safety concerns
that would require costly investment to remedy. Similar to the demolition of other City-owned properties in late 2024 and early 2025, this effort will stabilize these sites and prepare them for future redevelopment.
Anthem Demolition has been awarded the contract by the City Council earlier this month. Work is already underway, with asbestos testing in progress and utility disconnections taking place at the properties. Construction fencing will soon be installed to secure the sites, and, weather permitting, demolition is expected to begin in the coming weeks. Once complete, the properties will be cleared and the site will be restored to grass.
During this period, the community can expect to see construction fencing, heavy equipment, and truck traffic in the area. Temporary lane closures and parking restrictions may occur along Main Street and High Street. Noise is also expected during active demolition, though the City will work with the contractor to minimize disruptions.
Once the demolitions are complete, the cleared land will serve multiple purposes. In the short term, it will provide open space for community programming, including an event in 2026 to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary, and serve as a temporary event site while downtown construction is underway in 2027. Looking ahead, the newly cleared properties will create shovel-ready sites that are attractive for redevelopment and consistent with the community’s vision for a more vibrant and welcoming downtown.
After these demolitions, the City also plans to remove two additional properties at 321 Main Street and 461 Main Street. Both are in extremely poor condition, and, if approved by the City Council, the work would be completed by the end of the year using FY 2025 budgeted funds. Together with previous demolitions, these e