Massive Cedar Rapids demolition project at halfway point

The big push to demolish hundreds of buyout homes in one flood-damaged Cedar Rapids neighborhood is now at the halfway point.

Demolition work in the Time Check neighborhood started two months ago-with the first demolition taking place on March 22

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.  And the list of homes to tear down keeps growing.  Originally, the city had 281 on the list.  Now, that number is up to 340.  Still, the work is expected to wrap up in mid to late July about right on schedule.

At the halfway point, project managers say the changes to the neighborhood are becoming more apparent.  When demolition started, you might describe how things looked as houses with a few empty spaces.  Now, it's more appropriate, on some streets, to say empty spaces with a few houses.

Still, some things haven't changed since the project began.  When owners know their home is on the schedule, many come down to watch the final moments.  Sandra Vosmek was there to see the end of her old home on Friday morning.  “It's a sad situation, this was a great neighborhood in here.  We're all upset because we lost a family.  This whole block was family, “Vosmek said.

But as former Time Check residents stop by, they can't help but notice how quickly things are changing now.  Streets which once contained tightly packed homes have opened up.  And that transformation will only accelerate as more un-repairable, buyout homes come down.  Demolition project manager John Riggs said “the assessments are nearly complete and remediation of hazardous asbestos and demolition is now moving along with no delays.”

Riggs said one early roadblock was a FEMA payment rule that prevented the city from demolishing detached garages and similar outbuildings when homes came down.  Because FEMA wouldn't pay, contractors hauled away other debris, but had to leave dozens  of garages still standing.  Next week, managers will go to the city council with a separate contract to approve demolition of the most hazardous detached buildings still  standing.  Those buildings will soon join the debris pile.