News
By Don Groves
The Albany Ledger
The removal of two collapsed buildings in Albany is expected to begin this week.
Albany city administrator Derek Brown said
Iron Will at 117 N. Polk St. and Twisted Sisters at 111 N. Polk have been vacant since Aug. 23 when the Iron Will building collapsed, damaging Twisted Sisters. A third building, Whimsy Salon and Spa at 109 N. Polk St., was also vacated following the collapse because of safety concerns.
Brown said last week a contractor was planning to move equipment onsite Feb. 26, but that was prior to another round of snow covered the region Feb. 26. He said the Twisted Sisters building is being removed and paid for by the owner’s insurance after the Albany Board of Alderman approved an agreement with owner Di Smith to take over the property. Brown said the removal of the Iron Will building, owned by Jared Reidlinger, “is a little more complicated.”
Brown said the city is hoping to eventually use the property for redevelopment.
“Although people don’t build long, thin buildings anymore,” he said.
Kassandra Miller, the owner of Whimsy Salon, will likely be able to return to her building following completion of the demolition. An structural engineer determined in August Miller’s building was sound but faces possible damage if part of the Twisted Sisters building was to fall onto Whimsy Salon.
