Building to come down on holiday.
Monday's holiday will start something new for Harrisburg's downtown area.
Officials and work crews are preparing for the demolition of 25 W. Poplar St. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The city acquired the property before the end of 2015 and decided it wasn't in any condition to save. Crews will raze the building on the holiday because of school closings, and limiting bus and student traffic at the Harrisburg Learning Alternative Branch School at 24 S. Vine St., about 160 feet away.
The demolition was initially scheduled to happen before the turn of the year, but the neighboring business,Town Square Pub, used the western wall to house its exterior electrical boxes.
The boxes had to be moved before the building could come down and that caused delays.
The buildings removal will bring about a new city park: a small area with shrubbery and benches designed to beautify the downtown area.
"The park would be a great place for people to sit and read, hangout, or sit and drink coffee," said Beth Montfort, public property commissioner, at the November City Council meeting.
The first block of N. Vine Street is scheduled to be blocked off to allow for crews to begin their work. The effort will cost the city about $18,280, which was the lowest bid submitted at the Council meeting on Nov. 20.
Harrisburg officials have several plans to beautify the city and the surrounding area. They are in talks to soon improve the old smugglers property as well. But nothing has been set.
People need to be careful while traveling around the square area on Monday, officials warn. Some traffic rerouting will occur along the demolition area.