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We told you last May that it was coming.....or, rather, going.   Melching Inc. of Muskegon will begin demolition of the former State Farm building at 410 East Drive in Marshall this week. Demolition will continue through late August, with restoration running through September.

“The former State Farm building has long sat empty creating vulnerabilities and depressing nearby property values. We are eager to put the saga of this property in our rearview mirror and look forward to capitalizing on the full potential of this 7.5-acre property,” said Marshall Mayor Jack Reed. “We would like to thank the Calhoun County Land Bank, Calhoun County Treasurer, Melching Inc. and their partners for banding together to see this much needed project through to completion.”

The cost of demolishing and restoring the property, which has been vacant since 2006, will be covered by grants from the Cronin Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency along with funds from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Calhoun County Treasurer and Calhoun County Land Bank.

“The former State Farm building has been a problem property in Marshall for more than a decade and the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority is pleased to move forward with demolishing this blighted structure,” said Krista Trout-Edwards, executive director of the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority. “We have worked tirelessly for nearly two years to bring together the necessary resources to move forward with this project and are glad to see it finally moving forward.”

Demolition of the property will take approximately five weeks and will occur from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Melching Inc. will use a “dust destroyer” to keep the site wet and control dust and mold. However, neighbors are advised to keep their windows and doors closed during active demolition. Anyone living near the demolition site that suffers from asthma or other respiratory illnesses should consult their doctor.

“Melching Inc. is taking all the proper precautions in accordance with OSHA policies and procedures to ensure the demolition runs as smoothly and safely as possible,” Trout-Edwards said. “We encourage neighbors to keep their windows and doors closed during active demolition and ask residents to stay off the demolition site at all times to ensure the safety of everyone.”

Upon completion of demolition, the foundation will be removed the week of Aug. 20 followed by several weeks of restoration. The entire project is expected to be completed by mid-September, paving way for future development.

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