Borden chimney will be demolished Friday

**James** · #1 (**permalink**) 10-02-2006, 06:12 AM

Demolition crews are set to tear down the 125-foot smokestack at the Borden Building that morning.

The plan calls for punching holes in the side of the chimney and having it fall, like a cut tree would, toward the Chippewa River.

For safety precautions, Broadway Street will be closed starting at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 6. It should be reopened for traffic by 1 p.m., city Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Greg Baderschneider said.

Viewing areas for curious members of the public will be set up at Town Center and in Island Park. A large ring around the Borden Building will be blocked off, and businesses adjacent to the area will be closed.

But people don't have to go downtown to see it.

"It's our intention to do everything we can to have this streamed live on our Web site," Baderschneider said.

Original plans called for the chimney to be down by early September, but it was delayed by state demolition permit issues and working out some of the logistics involved with tearing down the tall structure.

As part of the chimney demolition process, the red brick around its base will be removed by hand for use in remodeling the Borden Building. Baderschneider said begin early next week.

Demolition of the metal building between Borden and Mountain Town, along with removal of concrete slabs on the site should start early next week as well.

Asbestos checks remain before the crumbling white office building and its connector to the main Borden structure can be torn down.

demobud · #2 (**permalink**) 10-03-2006, 04:34 AM

That's a nice looking stack! You don't see brick work like that any more.

**James** · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2006, 06:11 AM

"It did exactly what it was supposed to do," said Scott Tucker, owner of H&M Demolition of Holland. Tucker was at the controls of a Caterpillar 325 excavator equipped with a hydraulic hammer that knocked out the base of the 99-year-old brick chimney.

Tucker and his excavator arrived at the scene about 10:30 a.m. The original plan called for the demolition to begin earlier, and several hundred people were waiting on Broadway and Mosher streets for the spectacular.