Partial Demolition of H&W Building Expected

After months of attempts to stabilize a deteriorating Dubuque building, its owner is now pushing for a partial demolition of the structure. On Wednesday, Dubuque Assistant Housing and Community Development Director Mike Belmont informed the Dubuque City Council he had received an email earlier that day from Steve Emerson, the owner of the Dubuque Brewing and Malting Co. building at 3000 Jackson St., who said he plans to move forward with demolishing the southern section of the structure. The proposed demolition would consist of all sections of the building that lie south of the archway entrance located on Jackson Street. Belmont stressed that an official demolition request had not yet been submitted to the city, and Emerson did not attend the City Council meeting on Wednesday night to provide further details. Dubuque City Council members said they would support the move to partially demolish the structure if it quickened the reopening of a portion of Jackson Street adjacent to the structure that has been closed since August. If completed, the demolition work would resolve the safety concerns that prompted the city to close the section of Jackson Street, Belmont said.