PORTSMOUTH — The owner of the historic but fire-damaged building at 278 State St. has submitted a demolition permit application with the city, according to Shanti Wolph, the city’s chief building inspector.
The submission comes a couple of weeks after the city's Historic District Commission voted to allow developer and building owner Peter Floros to raze the structure, which is known as the 1850 Daily Times building.
A major downtown fire in April 2017 damaged several buildings in the city’s historic district, destroying the State Street Saloon, and badly damaging 278 State St.
The building, which is now totally fenced off, has been vacant since the fire. Part of State Street near the building remains blocked.
Prior to approving the demolition permit, “city staff will meet with the demolition contractor to review the proposed plan and ensure that all safety concerns are addressed,” Wolph said Thursday.
“Additionally, we will communicate the demolition plan to the public, including dates and times,” he said. “I anticipate the process will be completed within the next month or so.”
How long will it take to demolish Daily Times building?
Renaud Industries of Portsmouth is the contractor hired by Floros to conduct the demolition, according to the plan it filed with the city.
“The scope of work includes demolition of the five-story structure located at 278 State St. Portsmouth … down to the basement floor of the property where possible,” the company said in its demolition plan. “Specifically, all building structures above the first floor including the first floor and foundation below grade is to be demolished. This demolition work is to include both the exterior and interior of the building.”
The company explained in its plan that they’re proposing to start the “initial demolition” of the building on a Monday evening and be “completed by the following morning on Tuesday by 6 a.m.”
“We propose closing the State Street and Pleasant Street intersection at 11 p.m. to begin the demolition process at midnight,” company officials said.
The roadway, according to the plan, will be clear and reopened by Tuesday morning at 6.
“Temporary lighting will be present during any evening activities. Structural demolition will be performed systematically from top of building to bottom,” company officials explained.
Why has it taken so long to approve demolition?
Floros had repeatedly sought the HDC’s permission to take the building down, saying it couldn’t be redeveloped in an economically feasible way because of the damage it suffered and its risk of collapse.
Until its most recent vote in early August, the HDC had refused to grant permission.
City officials had previously accuses Floros of " demolition by neglect ."
The city recently put up barricades around the building — blocking a lane of State Street and an adjacent sidewalk — out of “an abundance of caution” after receiving a report from the building owner’s engineer stating it could potentially collapse.
Attorney John Kuzinevich, who represents Floros, said “obviously everyone on Mr. Floros’ team is excited to be working with the HDC and the Board of Adjustment as needed be able to build this project that is fully consistent with the historic district and will just improve the area tremendously.”
“He’s also glad any safety concerns will be resolved in short order,” Kuzinevich said. “Personally I am happy that the dispute with the city is finally over.”
What will be built on the site?
The attorney has previously described Floros’ redevelopment plan as a four-story mixed-use building with commercial or retail on the first floor and housing above.”
The housing could feature as many as 17 apartments or condos, he said.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Owner of fire-damaged Daily Times building in Portsmouth seeks demolition permit
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