City demolishing dilapidated downtown building

The city of Blaine has started demolishing a dilapidated downtown building.

The building, located at 665 Peace Portal Drive, was formerly occupied by the Costa Azul restaurant and is pest-ridden, structurally unsound and in decay, posing a risk to public safety.

In February 2018, the city put out a call for bids to demolish the building and received only one, from Wrecking Ball Demolition, totaling $406,362. Considering the price too high, Blaine City Council voted 6-0 to reject it.

In December 2018, city council voted 6-0 to approve a $247,836 contract with Dirt Works Bellingham Inc. to demolish the building. The contract included the cost of permitting, asbestos abatement, demolition and disposal of the structure.

According to Blaine public works director Ravyn Whitewolf, the contractor’s first official day was Wednesday, April 10. The contractor has been working on the preparations for the project since it was executed in February 2019.

The entire project should be completed within two weeks, said Whitewolf.

Because the building shared structural supports with two other buildings directly north, including Blaine Bouquets, the building’s structural supports had to be severed. This occurred on April 11. The owner to the north was required to perform seismic retrofits to their building in advance of the demolition.

“There are years of history related to prior uses of the building and the enforcement action that precipitated the demolition,” said Whitewolf. “Tim Woodard, our building official, managed the project until the demolition contractor was selected.”

The site is privately owned, and what happens next to the site is up to the owner. “We would love to see the property developed,” said Whitewolf.