Neighbors brace for implosion of nurse's dorm
The third and final explosion to rock the bluff in Moline, IA will be different from the others.
This time, the building being imploded has neighbors.
The house closest to the old nursing dormitory on the 6th Street hill is owned and occupied by Mike and Candy Shamsie. He is the developer of the bluff property that once was home to Moline Public and Lutheran hospitals, which he has dubbed One Moline Place.
The Shamsies’ house is just across 6th street from the dormitory.
The sprawling, vacant hospitals were imploded several years ago as land was cleared for the housing development.
The seven-story dormitory is the last to fall, and some of the neighbors are excited — and a little cautious — about what to expect later this month besides an enormous “Boom!”
Mike Shamsie and city officials from the planning and engineering departments, along with fire and police department personnel, have had planning meetings to discuss the implosion, which is to occur at the end of this month.
Before any explosives are detonated, a plan is to be in place for closing 6th Street, controlling spectators and making sure Shamsie has all the permits necessary for the demolition.
“He’s required to provide me with a notification of demolition and renovation, including the handling of any asbestos, before he can tear down the building,” said Kaye Whitley, Moline’s code manager. “He hasn’t done that yet. We’re waiting to get that (documentation) before his contractor can pull the permit.”
Moline Fire Marshal Ed Vize said one important part of the planning process has been establishing a safe evacuation distance. During the Moline Public Hospital implosion, those injured by flying debris were standing where they had been directed to stand by police.
“We’re still working on it,” Vize said. “Obviously, we don’t want any accidents like last time.”
The dormitory originally was scheduled for demolition in mid-May. Shamsie said it will cost about $200,000 to implode the structure and haul away all of the debris.
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