Mike Wolanin | The Republic A view of the lot where the Irwin Block building used to stand in downtown Columbus, Ind., Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
A section of downtown Columbus that has been closed off for nearly three months could open back up next week.
City attorney Alan Whitted gave an update to the Columbus Board of Works on Tuesday regarding the 400 block of Fifth Street. The area was closed off with caution tape and fencing after a fire devastated the Irwin Block Building in early December.
“I spoke, by emails, with Jim Arthur today, who is the person that’s handling the demolition contract for the landowners,” said Whitted. “And he said that they expect to allow, be in a position to remove the fences back next to the building by the end of the week, so we could open Fifth Street next week.”
Whitted has spoken with Executive Director of Public Works Dave Hayward, who suggested that the demolition company, Casey-Bertram, should file a request for special use of right of way due to their desire to maintain some fencing along the sidewalk.
Mayor Jim Lienhoop asked Hayward if there’s anything that should be done to prepare the street for the return of traffic.
“I suggest to Alan that we ought to do a walk-thru with the contractor and make sure that there isn’t some kind of hidden damage or something there that wasn’t noticed by someone else,” Hayward replied. “And once we do that, though, I think we’re ready to open things up.”
When asked if contractors expect the Centra Credit Union parking lot in this area to open back up, Whitted replied that this is still to be determined.
The Irwin Block building, once located in the 400 block of Fifth Street, was destroyed by a fire late Dec. 3, resulting in a large portion of the building’s third story façade collapsing onto the sidewalk. In the aftermath, firefighters warned that the building was unstable and could collapse at any time.
Casey-Bertram of Indianapolis demolished the structure, hired by the building’s owners.
The cause of the fire was ruled “undetermined,” meaning investigators could not uncover enough physical evidence or accounts of factors that led to the fire.
The property owners say they do not know at this time what the future of the property will be.
