Demolition bids opened for former newspaper office
A downtown Muncie, IN landmark that's been vacant for years could face demolition in the next few weeks.
The Muncie Redevelopment Commission took bids Thursday morning for razing four buildings in a complex formerly occupied by The Star Press.
While the building at High and Main streets will be saved, four other buildings in the block bounded by High, Main, Franklin and Jackson streets will be demolished.
The apparent low bidder in was Shroyer Brothers Inc. of Muncie, which offered to do the demolition work for $249,900.
That amount nearly coincides with the amount set aside for demolition, which includes $200,000 in Central City Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue and $50,000 from Gannett, owner of The Star Press, which also donated the property to the MRC.
The highest bid of four submitted was from York Construction and Excavating of Muncie, which submitted an offer of $464,800.
The redevelopment commission took the bids under advisement and has 60 days to consider them, although MRC director Bruce Baldwin said he didn't think deliberations would take that long.
After a bid is accepted, demolition could take up to 120 days, said City Engineer Mark Turner, a MRC board member.
Once demolition is complete, Baldwin said, the property, including the remaining building and site, would likely be given to the city for future development.
The buildings have been largely unused since The Star Press moved into the Fisher Building at 345 N. High St. in 1999. The structures have been used for storage and also for training by local police and fire departments.
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