The demolition of a long-vacant building near the Charleston Civic Center will have a twofold benefit, the head of the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority said Wednesday.
CURA bought the one-story brick building at 100 Lee St. E. years ago after it had been sitting empty for some time, Executive Director Jim Edwards said Wednesday.
When the urban renewal authority learned that BBL Carlton, the contractor for the Civic Center's renovation project, was interested in using the site while work is completed, the authority struck a deal to benefit both parties.
"We felt like it made sense [to] eliminate a blighted property at the same time as helping a city project," Edwards said.
BBL Carlton agreed to take care of the building's demolition costs if the urban renewal authority paid for the asbestos removal. The demolition is expected to take place within the next six to eight weeks, Edwards said.
The addition on the back end of 1212 Quarrier St. is also set for demolition in the coming weeks. But that process will take longer than normal because the addition is connected to both the historic home at the address facing the street, as well as Arlington Court apartments. Crews will need to remove the connections to both by hand, Edwards said, before the addition can be torn down.
The urban renewal authority put out a request for proposals to develop the historic home at the site, which expired Jan. 29, but only one firm submitted a proposal, Edwards said.
Despite years of neglect, Edwards believes interested buyers will come forward once the addition is torn down.
"Having a historic building on a site is more likely to attract interest and be developed than a vacant site," he said.
The urban renewal authority will also begin taking bids for the 2nd Avenue Community Center renovations. The project includes not only installing new, historically accurate windows, but also relocating heating and cooling equipment into closets and replacing the front door into the building.
"It's got a rather industrial-looking front door, but the plan is to include new, historically accurate double doors," Edwards said.
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