Demolition starts on Providence Road and Broadway building

According to the city of Columbia, the McAdams building on Providence Road and Broadway will be coming down by early February, weather permitting.

Columbia Public Works officials confirmed they spoke to staff members regarding the demolition efforts and estimate the work will be completed by Feb. 2.

Steve Sapp, with the city of Columbia, told ABC 17 News the demolition permit was issued Monday, and the demolition started that same day.

Prior to demolition, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department had to remove asbestos and high levels of lead in the building’s paint.

ABC 17 News has been tracking this story since February of last year, and that the city received an estimated cost of more than $7,000 for asbestos removal. That removal was done before the start of demolition.

In October 2017 ABC 17 News reported the building at 32 South Providence Road will be an extension of Flat Branch Park and that the property was purchased October 2016 by the city of Columbia for more than $1 million.

This is the same location that CVS Pharmacy desired to take ownership of but failed to acquire despite their three attempts.

Sapp told ABC 17 News that many great cities like New York, Saint Louis and Chicago have designated parks and Columbia plans to do the same.

The city of Columbia said the community will be able to decide if Flat Branch Park will keep its name or if the park will change its current appearance.

One of the concerns the city did address was the park next to a main road, but officials with Columbia said with the many planners on board and residents input, they have every intention to keep the community safe.