The city’s timeline for razing the derelict Gastineau Apartments by November is “very aggressive” and cannot be guaranteed.
That’s according to architects planning the demolition of the downtown eyesore. The cautionary comments were made in NorthWind Architects’ proposal for a city contract. The three-building apartment complex has been uninhabitable since a 2012 fire.
NorthWind says rainy weather in a typical Juneau fall will make demolition more difficult, especially with respect to erosion of the hillside behind the apartments and managing stormwater pollution. NorthWind suggests a plan for completing demolition in April when it’s drier, but before tourist season.
The city wants a demolition plan at the end of August, which it then intends to use to solicit bids in September for the actual demolition. It’s budgeted $1.8 million for the entire project, which it hopes to recoup through a lien against the property owners.
The city has not signed a contract yet, but NorthWind’s proposal was the highest-rated of the two submitted.
