The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has halted demolition of the former Docks restaurant because owner Tim Stenberg failed to contact the DNR before demolition began.

According to DNR spokesman Kevin Baskins, federal regulations require that the DNR be contacted prior to any demolition or renovation of a commercial building.

“Such was not the case on this one,” Baskins said Friday.

The demolition was stopped on Tuesday, one day after it began.

The regulation is designed to ensure that the property is tested for asbestos prior to demolition.

Baskins said Stenberg hired an environmental firm to take samples looking for asbestos.

“The only asbestos we found is basically associated with some adhesive used on fixtures such as mirrors in the bathrooms. Once that has been properly removed, they will be able to complete the demolition work,” Baskins said.

Baskins said Stenberg will be issued a notice of violation because the DNR was not notified prior to beginning demolition.

It is unclear how the DNR found out about the demolition and consequently the violation, Baskins said.

Stenberg was unavailable for comment Friday.

The property at 475 N. Shore Drive is being demolished to make way for a four-story restaurant/condominium project for the lakeshore location.

A crew from Yohn Excavating started taking the building down on Monday.

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