Galesburg City Council Monday night can take up a professional services agreement to study a burnt-out downtown property.
The contract would $9,000 to Klinger and Associates to study 140-144 E Main St. Currently an LLC run by therapist and businessman Wil Azer.
The scope of services would include a visual structural evaluation of the buildings to determine if the exterior walls on the east and west sides are structurally independent of the walls of the adjacent buildings.
The council will also get a probable cost for demolition, potential structural repairs that may be necessary to remaining walls.
Aldermen could also approve moving forward with the demolition of a bundle of dilapidated residential properties.
There has been no change in the condition of the properties after owners’ communication from the City Building Inspector regarding necessary repairs.
A title search will be done and if it is found that there are any other parties with an ownership interest, staff will send them notices.
The City Legal Department then will pursue all necessary steps to obtain an order for demolition from the courts. Estimated costs for demolition run from $8,000 to $18,000 for each property.
Council can also give follow-up approval to an executive order Mayor John Pritchard signed on Thursday to suspend city laws on bar and restaurants’ outdoor operations with new guidelines.
Businesses were able to serve dine-in customers outdoors on Friday as most of Illinois entered Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois plan.
It’s unclear what it would mean if the council were to reject the resolution.
