City looking to demolish buildings on 2nd Street SW

MASON CITY – City officials are looking to move forward with the demolition of two buildings on 2nd Street SW.

The buildings, now owned by the City,  are located at 217 and 303 2nd Street SW, just south of parking lots between Southbridge Mall and Principle Financial.

According to a memo from City Engineer Mark Rahm, the buildings are “dilapidated and unsightly” and “create a potential unsafe environment.”

Under a plan that will be presented to the City Council at their regular meeting on Tuesday, September 4th, the building would be torn down and the land would be restored to a “natural setting.”  This includes the clearing and grubbing of brush, bank shaping and stabilization, removal of sidewalk, replacement of curb and gutter and then furnish and spread top soil and seed.

The demolition of the buildings will be funded through the use of Tax Increment Financing funds secured from valuation of the Community Growth TIF district.  The City may seek a re-imbursement to this TIF account.

Bids to demolish the structures were submitted by 5 contractors:

MCKines Excavating – $93,477

Charlson Excavating – $100,947.50

Navratil Ecavating – $103,175.75

Pop Excavating – $$155,685

Mid-Continent Contracting – $160,822

Rahm has recommended that the Council award the contract to McKiness.