The demolition of the old Baker School Building in Sparta has been delayed.
Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery said the contractor tasked with the demolition lost its asbestos removal team. Lowery said the city is considering alternative options to get the building demolished.
“They are looking now at another company, so that’s kind of the process, so we are kind of back at square one with that,” Lowery said. “We have reached out to the second-highest bidder, and we have not gotten a real response back from them yet.”
Lowery said the city could re-bid the project, as the second-highest bidder was significantly higher than the awarded bid. Lowery said he would like to see the building demolished sooner rather than later, as the building is deteriorating.
“It’s not safe right now as far as you can’t go in there and run a business or anything,” Lowery said. “There would be a lot of money that has to be done, so we feel it’s best to knock that down.”
The old Baker School Building is located at 321 East Bronson Street. Lowery said he does have some plans for the property once the building is demolished.
“Maybe looking at putting three or four pickleball courts over there,” Lowery said. “It would be a good place to put a pickleball court area, and it’s close to the Senior Citizen Center, and maybe even, I would like to put a bocce ball court there as well.”
