November 21, 2024

Council consider Newton Inn demolition plans

D&D grant for former Hendrickson’s Greenhouse, airport improvement program also on docket

By Christopher Braunschweig

Newton Inn, which has been owned by the city for the past few months, is planned to be demolished. (Christopher Braunschweig)

Newton Inn is primed and ready for demolition, as long as council members agree to the city’s request to place the project up for bid Monday night.

After rejecting a $495,000 offer from local salvage yard owners to buy the city-owned building in January — for the same price council members originally purchased from the former possessor — the city had decided to move forward with forward with the demo.

Council members held off on the proposed buy after Newton Development Corporation Executive Director Frank Liebl sent a letter urging them to not rush the process. Although he did acknowledge Newton Inn had become a nuisance and an “embarrassment,” NDC wanted time to possibly market the property.

Now, city staff estimate the abatement and demolition cost to be about $700,000. This project would be paid for using proposed 2020 bond proceeds. The community services division has completed pre-demolition asbestos and lead-based paint inspections.

Abatement of any asbestos-containing materials, complete demolition of the main structure and its detached garage and seeding of the disturbed areas are included in the project.

If approved by council members, the proposed bid opening will occur April 27.

The public hearing to accept bids and award the contract will be held during the regularly scheduled May 4 Newton City Council meeting.

The project completion date is set for Aug. 15.

D&D grant demo of Hendrickson’s Greenhouse

Council members will consider approving a resolution for a D&D grant application for acquisition and demolition of the property at 900 W. Third St. S., the former Hendrickson’s Greenhouse.

The FNNB Development Company intends to use its $20,000 D&D grant to demolish the dilapidated structures, which have been closed for some time. Mark Hendrickson, the former owner of his eponymous greenhouse, sold the building in 2011.

Iowa airport improvement program application

The Newton City Council will decide whether to approve city staff’s submission of a grant application and certifying the Newton Municipal Airport’s eligibility requirements to the Iowa Department of Transportation.

The local airport is in need of an expanded airport apron. Staff say this is needed to provide additional aircraft parking areas, which are in short supply on race weekends at the neighboring Iowa Speedway.

It is also needed to replace existing areas that may be lost when the future taxiway realignment project is constructed.

The preliminary cost estimate is set at $400,000. If the apron expansion project is selected for funding, the IDOT grant would provide for 80 percent of the cost. The remaining 20 percent would be paid from local contributions.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com