Ishpeming DDA Buying & Wrecking J.C. Penney Building

Ishpeming’s Downtown Development Authority is buying a vacant building so that it can be demolished.

The former J.C. Penney building at Main Street and Cleveland Avenue has been empty for years.

The DDA tried to secure grant money to help with the cost of demolition.

But after 2 years of snags, the group has voted to buy the property and wreck it.

The building has a great deal of water damage and asbestos which will make it tough to bring down.

The DDA is limiting the cost of demolition to $90,000.

An estimate done in May priced the cost at $77,000.

The DDA and the city manager expressed frustration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s grant process.

They said time and again, the MEDC would ask for something only to later change its mind.