The City of Merrill and its Redevelopment Authority are providing financial assistance to the Social & Sick Society to repair damage done to their building at 418 Grand Avenue as a result of the city’s demolition of the adjoining building.
“The city felt we should assist them in winterizing their building because the damage was caused by the actions of the city in demolishing the adjoining building,” said city Finance Director Kathy Unertl.
The city demolished the building at 416 Grand Avenue this fall after condemning it and deeming the building to be blighted. The 416 building was actually attached to the 418 building with connecting floor joists. When the 416 building was removed, holes were left in the east exterior wall of the Social & Sick Society’s building.
Under a development agreement passed by the city’s common council Tuesday, the city will reimburse Social & Sick $3,996 toward the cost of repairing and winterizing the building and removing the remnants of the demolished building.