The east side of the Portage Mall in Portage IL, sits empty, but its storefronts will soon spring to life as demolition crews ramp up their work.

The building will be fenced off next week, while contractor National Salvage & Service starts interior demolition the week of Sept. 4.

In July, the firm was awarded a $437,000 bid to raze buildings, fill in the area, plant grass and repave a driving aisle through the mall. Vivian Street will extend north through the mall.

A subcontractor is removing ceiling tiles and other building materials that contain asbestos.

City Engineer Craig Hendrix said the company has to remove those materials in order to recycle concrete and wooden panels.

Some of the former businesses left behind items that the contractor has to clear out, Hendrix said.

The demolition is set to be complete in early October.

Road grading, paving and seeding is scheduled to be finished by October 15.

The demolition project is part of the city's downtown redevelopment plan.

An Ivy Tech classroom building will be one of the first new structures built on the site. City officials view the 40,000-square-foot building as a possible anchor for a four-building campus and private development.