Greensboro, N.C., company will demolish the Downtowner

D.H. Griffin Wrecking Co. of Greensboro, N.C., was selected to demolish the former Downtowner Motor Inn from a pool of seven businesses bidding for the job, the city announced on Wednesday.

The Danville Industrial Developmental Authority and the Danville Regional Foundation put together a committee to make the selection.

City Manager Joe King said a major factor in choosing a company was a proven track record of demolishing buildings in an area like downtown Danville that has a close proximity to other buildings.

“A great deal of emphasis placed on a company to do it in a timely, safe way with minimal impact to the surrounding buildings,” said King. “So it wasn’t just about a low price.”

The company’s major role in the demolition and subsequent cleanup of the World Trade Center after 9/11 and its demolition projects in Atlanta, where downtown congestion is a problem, was a significant factor.

As opposed to an explosive removal of the site, the Downtowner will be leveled floor by floor. The entire process is expected to take seven months. The initial work of removing asbestos and other hazardous materials from the building will be done in January and the first part of the actual demolition will take place in February.

Griffin Wrecking submitted the winning bid of $730,626. Other bids ranged from $425,340 to more than $2 million. The Danville Regional Foundation will pay for the entire demolition.

King said that the DRF though it was important to fund the demolition for the success of the River District revitalization project. The Downtowner has been empty for more than 20 years and has become a focal point for blight eradication and redevelopment in the downtown area.

“This is the very first major visual image that the public will see in the revitalization effort,” said Matt Charles, the DRF communications director. “The IDA is buying a lot of the buildings and that is great but this is something people can actually see.”

The DRF has been working with the city for downtown revitalization efforts for the past year and many consider this a big step in the rejuvenation of the River District.

Holland reports for the Danville Register & Bee.