Demolition of former Diamond V Mills plant begins in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — Crews have begun to demolish the former Diamond V Mills plant in northwest Cedar Rapids, where two fires were reported in July.

The former plant, at 436 G Ave. NW, is owned by Cedar Rapids Development Group, which is comprised of mostly local investors, and is the city’s preferred developer of a potential casino. The group has been acquiring real estate in the area between F and I avenues NW and First and Fifth streets NW to be redeveloped into a casino should the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission decide to issue a license for a new casino.

The building previously was owned by Diamond V, which now operates a facility in southwest Cedar Rapids.

The building on G Avenue was placarded by the city on June 26, which happens when a building has unresolved code violations. It often means it is not safe to enter. Cedar Rapids Fire Chief Greg Smith told reporters in July the building did not have a functional sprinkler system.

On July 5 and 8, the fire department responded to fires at the vacant building that were caused by human activity, Smith said at the time. One of the fires resulted in the serious injury of a male firefighter who fell about 30 feet down an elevator shaft.

At the time, Jonathan Swain, speaking to The Gazette on behalf of the development group, said damage to the building from the fires was minimal, but that it would be demolished.

That demolition work began earlier this month.

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“First, we appreciate the Cedar Rapids Fire Department for its response to incidents at the property,” Kim Pang, vice president of development for Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, said in a statement last week. “We have continued working with the city to secure permits and complete all the necessary steps for safe demolition, which is underway and on schedule. Demolition is to be completed by Nov. 1.”

The main structure already is substantially removed.

The work is being done by DW Zinser, a commercial demolition company. It secured a demolition permit for the building on Aug. 26, according to the Cedar Rapids Building Services Department. The demolition must be finished within 60 days of the date it was issued.