Demolition set to start on Crowell-Collier complex

Demolition is underway this week at the Crowell-Collier Building, after city officials complained the work was moving too slowly.

Work crews were busy Wednesday tearing down a walkway linking some of the buildings. Portions of other buildings are starting to come down as well, said Joe Reidy, an attorney for Columbus law firm Frost, Brown and Todd, which represents the facilitys owner.

Springfield city officials filed a complaint last month arguing Mosier Industrial Services, the facilitys owner, failed to move forward with the demolition in a meaningful manner, said said Jerry Strozdas, city law director for Springfield.

The city had previously filed a separate court order that called for Mosier to demolish three buildings that make up a portion of the complex, located at 200 W. High St. The site was once the home to one of the worlds largest magazine publishing companies, but has since fallen into disrepair, leaving a major eyesore downtown.

Mosier obtained demolition permits in November last year, but little progress had been made since, Strozdas said.

The motion that we filed a week or so ago in court is asserting that they have not proceeded diligently, that in the last 90 days or so theres been precious little activity, Strozdas said.

But several factors have slowed demolition, including below-freezing temperatures and a water line break that flooded parts of the complex, Reidy said. Crews are not required to work on days when the temperature dips below 20 degrees for safety purposes, he said, adding there is no specific timeline to complete the project because it is weather-dependent.

The forecast for next week is for warmer weather, so every day that weve got appropriate temperatures theyll be working on the demolition of that building until its down, Reidy said.

In January, a water line also burst, flooding the basement and elevator pit of one of the buildings and slowing demolition for more than three weeks, Reidy said.

The building is 900,000 square feet, making it one of the largest structures in Springfield. The complex covers an entire city block.

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Demolition set to start on Crowell-Collier complex