City seeks bids for Shopper's World demolition

City seeks bids for Shopper’s World demolition               

By Charles Sercombe

The razing of the former Shopper’s World building is taking another step.

In this issue of The Citizen, the city published an advertisement seeking bids for the demolition of the building.

It had been estimated the cost to demolish the 21,000 square foot building will be $400,000. Included in the demolition will be the removal of asbestos. That part of the project is being funded with a state-financed Brownfield fund.

A developer, Curis Development, wants to construct a four-story building in its place. The building will be anchored with an Aldi’s market on the ground floor and senior apartments in the top three.

That plan came under intense opposition by some residents and merchants who fear that Aldi’s will put them out of business.

City officials say without the development the building will likely sit vacant and will eventually deteriorate to the point where it becomes a hazard.