Explosives, wrecking ball in the mix for Crowne Plaza demolition

CEDAR RAPIDS - On March 7, the one-block section of Third Street NE will close forever, and soon after, the demolition will begin.

Explosives might be in the mix to help the wrecking ball bring down the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel's Ballroom over Third Street SE and the parking garages and the office buildings in the block between Second and Third streets NE and First and A avenues NE, Dan Murrell, the city's buildings/facilities capital project manager, said Tuesday.

By the end of August, Murrell said that only The Roosevelt, once a hotel and now an apartment complex, will be left standing in the block.

After the demolition is done, construction will start on the city's $75.6-million Convention Complex project, which consists of a new convention center and an upgrade to the city's U.S. Cellular Center arena. The city also plans to renovate the hotel attached to the arena.

The City Council on Tuesday evening was expected to approve routine measures that would seek bids for the demolition work, the estimated cost of which is $2 million. The council also is expected to routinely approve the second and third required readings of an ordinance vacating Third Street NE to make way for the new convention center.

Murrell said five or six major demolition contractors participated in a pre-bid meeting on Tuesday for the demolition piece of the Convention Complex project. Another four or five have contacted him via phone and may want to bid on the job, he said.

Demolition is apt to start about March 21.

Murrell said the toughest part of the demolition work will be to take down the parking garage immediately next to The Roosevelt. Some demolition experts have suggested that the use of explosives on that part of the job might best ensure that The Roosevelt, which has historic standing, isn't damaged in the demolition.

Murrell said explosives, if used, can be timed and targeted so not to cause damage to structures around the demolition site.