City building inspector Glenn Hathaway ordered partial demolition at 308 South Main Street in Fall River ahead of weekend storm winds, bringing in a crane to lower upper walls and clear debris. A neighboring fire-damaged building will also have upper floors removed due to a cracked wall. Fencing will follow once fire crews clear the scene, with work expected done by late Friday.
American Environmental has been awarded the demolition contract for Center School's two rear additions in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, pending certificate of insurance bonds before officially joining the project. Vertex, the owner's project manager, will schedule an introductory meeting with the contractor next week. Town Meeting approved $2.4 million in Community Preservation funds for demolition and hazardous material removal, but the project faces a new complication: a certified roof consultant found rust permeating the 1928 building's slate shingles, prompting debate over full replacement versus incremental repairs.
Demolition is underway at 61 Union St. in Attleboro, clearing the former Composite Modules factory, an early-1900s electronics manufacturing building on an 80,517-square-foot parcel at Mill and Union streets. A Hingham developer plans a 141-unit market-rate apartment complex on the site after the city council voted 7-3 in April to grant a $4.7 million tax increment exemption for the project.
Amherst, Massachusetts crews have begun demolishing the former Fort River building this week now that the new Amethyst Brook Elementary is open, with work proceeding north to south through likely November to limit noise and dust near the occupied school. Abatement started weeks earlier under full-time industrial hygienist supervision, with continuous air monitoring and sealed work areas. Sections nearest the new building will only be demolished on weekends or early-release days, and the project carries $99 million in funding, with about $7 million still uncommitted.
Crews in Fall River, Massachusetts, are demolishing the former police station on Bedford Street, where the building had begun collapsing internally. Asbestos in the structure required dust suppression, air-quality monitoring and coordination with the state Department of Environmental Protection, which rejected an initial disposal plan before approving a revised one on Aug. 6. Building Commissioner Glenn Hathaway said no violations or fines have occurred, the roughly $1.4 million project has shown low dust readings so far, and the site is expected to be cleared by October.
Cambridge’s Inspectional Services Department halted demolition at 66 Kinnaird St. in the Riverside neighborhood after neighbors reported unsafe conditions, including debris that nearly struck a passing car. The site lacked police detail and required road or sidewalk closures. Officials say the demolition permit belonged to a previous developer and could not be transferred when Arco Homes-affiliated buyers acquired the property; the contractor faces a citation for missing permits and required 48-hour notice. The project would build a four-story multifamily building.