Contract approved for demolition of old Pioneer Paper Building

By Dan Hammock • June 26, 2021 1:30 am

Rognlin’s Construction was the winning, and only, bidder as the city of Aberdeen moves forward with the removal of the eyesore and safety hazard that was once the Pioneer Paper Building at 419 East Heron St.

At its meeting Wednesday, the Aberdeen City Council approved a contract with Rognlin’s for the removal of the building at a cost of just under $680,000.

“I understand this is a bit of sticker shock, it’s about $29,000 more than we were thinking,” said Community Development Director Lisa Scott.

The city’s estimate had demolition costing upward of $650,000.

Demolition is costly because the property shares a common wall with the building to the east. Scott said the contract amount will be transferred from the city’s general fund into its abatement fund during the supplemental budget process in July to cover the cost of demolition.

Scott said she believed Rognlin’s Construction plans on starting demolition in August. The contract calls for demolition completion by the end of September.

The 5,725-square-foot space was once two separate buildings, the Pioneer Building itself, once home to the Fashion Saloon and its “rooms,” used for prostitution early in the 20th century, and the Blockhouse Smith building. Both have very colorful histories, but fell into disrepair through decades of vacancy.

The roof has collapsed and in September 2018 the city had to shut down a section of the south East Heron sidewalk as the facade was leaning over the walkway. Today, there are steel beams from the sidewalk to the building to brace the structure.

DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD The facade of the old Pioneer Paper Building on East Heron in Aberdeen has been supported by steel beams since late 2018, and the sidewalk below closed to protect pedestrians from the crumbling building.