Burned-out building at Market and Michigan to be demolished

Property has attracted criminal activity, squatters, drug activity for months

The burned-out building at the corner of Market and Michigan streets in Aberdeen is finally going to be torn down.

“I am hopeful that in the next 20 days the building will come down and there will be a gravel lot there the city will own,” said Aberdeen Mayor Erik Larson at last week’s City Council meeting after the owner of a neighboring property spoke about the property at 518, 518½ and 522 W. Market St. during the public comment session.

The resident called the property at 518 W. Market St. “a shooting gallery” for drug users and said he and his family and other neighboring residents are in constant fear for their safety with the steady stream of transients coming in and out of the building and the large amount of drug and other criminal activity that goes on there.

Aberdeen Police Chief Bob Torgerson said his officers have spent a great deal of time answering complaints coming from the property since it burned in February of last year. Despite making quite a few arrests.

“You arrest some and others come and take their place,” said Larson.

Larson said the months-long process for the city to buy the property is in its last stages and he expects demolition to occur before the end of July.