Hasting Development Services helps with demolition of downtown Hastings building

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - Hastings Development Services is working to demolish the building in downtown Hastings that partially collapsed in September.

The building near Bert's Pharmacy around West 2nd Street was impacted by a fire in March 2022. According to Hastings Development Services officials, the owners were preparing for renovations after the fire happened.

Chad Bunger, the director of Hastings Development Services, said that when that building partially collapsed, they were ready to help.

"We have taken an active role in bringing groups together the day of the event. When it partially collapsed, we rallied a number of emergency personnel, public works streets, engineers, the owners of the block together just to make sure we're all on the same page and figuring out where we're going," Bunger said.

Bunger said the demolition company is starting the process of taking the building down and making sure it is done correctly.

Trish Ludemann, the owner of Gary Michaels Clothiers, said that building has taken a beating over the past 2 years with the recent Nebraska weather conditions.

"As a business owner, the building has fallen twice. It's not safe for people to walk with all this wind I'm concerned with the rest of that building coming down," Ludemann said.

Crew members with the Bockmann Demolition Company said they're expected to start destruction next week.