If anyone tells you it’s easy to demolish a decrepit, three-story, 98-year-old building six feet from a neighbor’s house, they’re lying.
A crew from Industrial Wrecking Inc. of Bridgeport was charged with just that task Tuesday, as demolition finally began at an old building at 42 Fifth St.
The building, one of four eyesores in the neighborhood the city has torn down using some $335,000 in state grant money, used to house a candy store and a beauty shop, Mayor Anthony Staffieri said.
However, it fell into disrepair, the owner stopped paying taxes and the city took over the property about 10 years ago, city officials said.
Demolition prep work — such as removing the maze of utilities embedded in the structure — took about a month.
The upper corner of the building facing Fifth Street started coming down at about 9 a.m. — but work had to stop by 10 a.m., when the crew became concerned that the exterior wall in the crumbling was leaning toward a neighboring multi-family house.
The house, occupied by several children who were watching the demolition from a window, was cleared after city officials tracked down a parent.
Next, the city had to deliver at least seven dump truck loads of dirt to the property, which was used as a ramp for the heavy machine. Once the dirt ramp was in place, the project proceeded smoothly.
There was some concern from neighbors about dust — as the building was deemed too dangerous to enter, there was no way to test for asbestos. A worker with a fire hose continually doused the debris with water to keep the dust under control. Neighbors watched across the street.
The building, as it existed, was a headache for city officials. Parts of the building was covered in graffiti. It also attracted squatters on occasion.
“We had complaints from neighbors about people hanging out there,” said Sheila O’Malley, the city’s director of economic development.
The city isn’t certain how the property will be redeveloped once demolition is complete.
Staffieri said a parking lot is an option.
“The offices for the Board of Education is right here. The Community Center is right here. The area needs parking,” Staffieri said.
