The Sioux City Council unanimously voted Monday to delay the demolition of five properties in a downtown block that have been deemed “dangerous and dilapidated.”
The new owner of five apartment buildings in the 900 block of Nebraska Street requested a halt to the demolition of the structures, in order to make improvements.
Mayor Bob Scott said he recalls that block of aging row houses was first tagged for possible action in 1998. There have been problems with the roofs, heating and more with those properties.
They are located across the street from the Sioux City Warming Shelter.
City Inspection Services Manager Darrell Bullock said he doubts all the needed changes can be carried out sooner than nine months, but he will report back once the 90 days are up.
Councilman Alex Watters said if concerted progress is being made, the city could consider another stay of demolition, towards the goal of improving the appearance of city neighborhoods.
*Additiolonally, as the Western Iowa Tech Community College sports programs enter a third year of competition, a notable first comes late Tuesday afternoon.
That’s when the first game on the new on-campus field takes place at 5:30 p.m. The soccer pitch is on the north edge of the Sioux City main campus, and previously the matches were played on a field about a mile away.
University officials, including Head Coach Eddie Vongsiprasom, are excited for the historic first, when the Comet women host Dakota Wesleyan.
He said there is a lot of pride in having the field, so people can see soccer right on campus, in what he called a team with a diverse makeup that’s emblematic of Siouxland.
“This is more than just a pitch – it is a home created to bring people together, to build memories, and to unite our community through the game we love,” Vongsiprasom said.
The WITCC men’s team will first play on the field on September 3.
