By Tracy Overstreet
tracy.overstreet@theindependent.com

Hall County Facilities Director Howard Hassett said the duplex at 233-235 S. Locust St. was to be demolished on Tuesday, but work has been held up until the gas lines could be disconnected from the property. Gas company workers have been busy with the Second Street widening project.

"The demolition should take one to two days after the machines come in," Hassett said. "They can do work now by hand."

Demolition work by hand actually began last week as portions of the duplex's second story were removed.

Hassett said the hand work is also required along the duplex's north side, which is shared with the south wall of the office building.

The exterior finish of the office building hasn't been determined yet, county officials said.

"We don't know what we're going to have when we get it down," said Bud Jeffries, Hall County Board of Supervisors chairman.

"We may stucco it and have some kids paint a mural. Part of it might be exposed block. We may have to brick part of it," he said. "We won't know until we get it down."

"It will be exposed brick until we get it taken care of," Hassett said.

A high priority will be placed on getting the shared wall sealed up quickly, but it shouldn't pose any risk for the office building, he said.

The county bought the duplex in 2003 for $51,064 with the intent of tearing it down to construct a 12-stall parking lot.

"We need a driveway there and some handicapped parking," Jeffries said.

The county bid the demolition project a couple of times before it got a price it felt it could afford. Hassett said the demolition cost is about $45,000, which includes filling the foundation hole.

Exterior finish bids and paving bids for the parking lot haven't been accepted yet.

Grand Island's Community Redevelopment Authority contributed a $37,500 grant toward the demolition.

Northbound lanes of South Locust Street may be closed periodically over the next two weeks as the demolition project progresses.