Demolition could soon begin on a building on East Adams Street that was devastated by fire in June.
Chris Nickell, the owner of the property at 413 E. Adams Street, said designs for mounting brackets to stabilize the wall between Cafe Moxo and the three-story building that caught fire have been submitted to the City of Springfield’s Building and Zoning Department.
The stabilization brackets recommended by Hansen Engineering will reinforce the brick wall by securing the floor and ceiling joints to the bricks. The city must grant or deny the permit before any further action can be taken to demolish the burned building and save Cafe Moxo.
More: “We support the community that supported us.” Café Moxo employees volunteer at the Adams Street fire
The building on the popular downtown block caught fire on June 19, destroying Elf Shelf Bookstore and Records, Electric Quill Tattoo Parlor, The Cats Pajamas Cat Café and the Pillsburied art exhibit on the third floor, which collapsed. Moxo Café was closed indefinitely on June 20 due to smoke and water damage, citing the building was unsafe to enter.
“Over the last week or so, things have started to unravel,” Nickell said. “We’re slowly making progress, so there’s light at the end of the tunnel now.”
The development came a week after the parapet connecting the shared wall of Café Moxo to the burned building was demolished. Since the city had agreed to allow engineers, the structure was stable enough to dismantle the parapet.
This is just one step in the multi-stage demolition and Nickell hopes demolition will begin in early or mid-September.
More: Shop has to close after fire in Adams Street – reopening at new location imminent
“If – you know – the (city) approves it by the end of this week or early next week, O’Shea Builders can start,” Nickell said. “My personal goal as a downtown activist is to get it in good enough shape in the last few weeks of the farmers market so it can return to its original spot.”
Claire Grant writes about business, growth and development and other news topics for The State Journal-Register. Reach her at [email protected]; and on X (formerly known as Twitter): @Claire_Granted
