The long-vacant Midland Building (7255 Irving Street), a persistent source of ire for Historic Westminster residents, will be deconstructed by its owner, who will pay for all associated costs. The deconstruction follows years of intensive community pressure and City action.
For a decade, the Midland Building had drawn increasing amounts of graffiti and vandalism, creating significant public health and safety issues. The City has been working closely with the property owner this year to respond quickly to community concerns, which included expediting a housing concept or demolishing the building. Residents and nearby businesses consistently urged action to resolve what had become a significant neighborhood blight, and it was community feedback that decisively accelerated the City’s efforts resolve the issue as soon as possible.
Westminster City Council appropriated $500,000 earlier this year to ensure the City could move forward with demolition if the owner did not either redevelop the site or demolish the building. The funding positioned the City to seek court approval for rapid demolition of the site had the owner not taken action.
Mayor Nancy McNally acknowledged that the City had hoped to see the previously proposed condominium project move forward, but allowing conditions at the Midland Building to persist was no longer acceptable.
“We would have preferred the condo project that was presented to City Council, but the City could no longer tolerate the status quo,” said Mayor Nancy McNally. “We will consider eliminating a blight as an early Christmas gift.”
