Cox Excavating awarded demolition contract for Crain, neighbor porches

Mike Emery, Richmond Palladium-Item
·2 min read

RICHMOND, Ind. — The city will pay Cox Excavating Plus $6,250 to demolish porches and stairs at two historic East Main Street buildings.

Richmond's Board of Public Works and Safety approved the contract Thursday. It calls for demolition work on the once-beautiful wraparound porches at 2110 and 2116 E. Main St.

The porches at the two buildings were deemed unsafe with wood and other materials jutting at odd angles and collapses opening holes in the roofs. The city's Historic Preservation Commission agreed to the porch demolitions when the Code Enforcement Department decided the porches were violating city code and a safety hazard.

Ownership questions have stalled any possible restoration work at the neighboring properties, one of which is the Crain building at 2116 E. Main St. opposite Glen Miller Park.

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Indiana Landmarks has covenants on the properties and continues working to solve the ownership issues so the buildings may be stabilized and preserved.

Cox was chosen among three bidders. Mikesell Excavating bid $8,000 and B&B Construction bid $20,000.

Mikesell was awarded the bid Thursday for demolition work at 908 N. Eighth St. Mikesell bid $6,950 to remove the house, garage and barn. B&B bid $9,400.

Other board approvals Thursday by the board included:

  • Closing the alley on the north side of Elstro Plaza from noon Jan. 22 to noon Jan. 31 for the Meltdown Winter Ice Festival and using fireworks 6-10 p.m. Jan. 29.

  • Contracting with National Signal Corporation for $520 per month to inspect, test and repair railroad crossing protection equipment.

  • Retaining Elite Clean to provide floor cleaning and maintenance services for Richmond Municipal Building.

  • Retaining Earlywine Pest Control for $5,735 annually to provide pest control services for city buildings and facilities through Dec. 31, 2023, with an option to renew for 2024 with a 5% increase.

  • Paying $2,950 for the installation of a new Buell air horn system on an ambulance being provided by Crossroads Ambulance Sales & Service.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Cox Excavating awarded contract for Crain, neighbor porches