OTTAWA — Following a special public hearing Wednesday night, the Ottawa City Commission reversed course and voted 5-0 to issue a permit to tear down the former Hometown Computers building, 124 S. Main St. The bank that owns the building because of a foreclosure had sought the demolition. And the city staff had urged that the historic three-story building be torn down because of its dilapidated condition. However, Commissioner Blake Jorgensen said he had resisted issuing a permit for complete demolition because of the old middle school. With two weeks left in the school session, students were moved out of the building after engineers had predicted the building was in imminent collapse, he said. The then-city commission refused to allow demolition and despite years of being abandoned and surviving severe wind storms, the building was renovated as housing for seniors and is an asset to the downtown. However, because of presentations Wednesday by engineers commissioned by the bank and the city, Jorgensen said he was willing to agree to raze the building. Previously, city commissioners said they wanted to save all or part of the building. But last night, engineers for both the bank and the city said that the building couldn’t be saved because of severe water damage, mold infestation, and because wood and stone structural members are too deteriorated. City attorney Bob Bezek told commissioners that the building was a safety threat to the public and demolition remained the most feasible and expeditious alternative.
Thursday, Feb. 16, 4 p.m.
