THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
DANVILLE — A pre-bid meeting for the demolition of Bresee Tower and the former Vermilion County Courthouse Annex saw approximately 40 to 50 people in attendance.
They represented demolition and asbestos abatement contractors, according to Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk.
Cronk said the project consultant is to get back with him on the number of different contractors who could be potential bidders.
The mandatory meeting and site visit for those interested in bidding highlighted items for the contractors to be aware of, Cronk said.
Bids can be submitted through Nov. 6.
The Danville downtown demolition project includes the demolition of the Bresee Tower building, county courthouse annex building and city hall garage building addition on the northeast corner of the back of the Robert E. Jones Municipal Building, 17 W. Main St.
Danville Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. said the one-story building addition on the north side of city hall houses the old boiler for the annex building. In order for the annex building to be removed, the “garage portion” must also be demolished.
Associated asbestos abatement, demolition debris disposal and site restoration are included in the entire project.
Demolition is expected next year.
Aldermen approved using reserve funds to pay consulting firm Farnsworth Group about $77,000 more in services to assist the city with planning, project management and bidding for the demolition project to also include contractor coordination, progress meeting, documentation, pay application review and project closeout. The resolution stated, “additions to the scope of services modified compensation of $13,500 is required for Planning and Environmental — Design Phase Additional Scope and $63,500 is needed for Construction Service Phase.”
The Danville City Council set aside $4 million three years ago to tear down Bresee Tower and a handful of other buildings in the downtown area that are unsafe and need to be demolished.
Williams has said he hopes the Bresee demolition will cost the city $3 million or less and they’ll have $1 million left to tackle the other buildings.
Pieces of Bresee Tower have continued to fall, which caused the closure of one lane of adjacent Main Street. Williams has said too much time has passed to save the building.
The lot to be left over after the buildings are demolished will be kept as green space until an appropriate developer is found, Williams said.
Bresee Tower, the tallest building in Danville, was designed by noted Chicago architecture firm Mundie and Jensen and was built in 1917 as the First National Bank.
The classical revival-style tower has been vacant since the owners forced business tenants out and closed the building in 2005. Potential development proposals through the years never materialized.
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