It was back to business as usual Thursday for several tenants of the former Bracken’s Shopping Center in Midland Plaza.
Most of the businesses in the building and the dental office of Dr. Stephen Rider, were in operation after being closed since last Tuesday.
The building was damaged by last week’s tornado, and city officials said a metal awning over the sidewalk was damaged so badly that it wouldn’t be safe for customers and patients to walk under it.
The awning has been removed.
City Manager Gary Bradley said Thursday that the city has not condemned the building, and that a structural engineer who inspected it last week reported that the building is not unsafe.
Keith Edwards, the city’s community development officer, said last week that there was damage to the roof, but it isn’t severe enough to prevent the building from being occupied.
A contractor, D. Joseph Construction from Peoria, was hired by Cohen Developments, which owns the shopping center, to make needed repairs. A representative of the construction firm said Thursday that the end of the building nearest to Tenney Street is not safe and will be torn down. The only tenant in that part of the building is the H&R Block tax preparation business.
The contractor also said the south wing of the building, which formerly housed the office of the Illinois Department of Public Aid, will be demolished as well.
According to the construction company, Cohen Developments has brought in both architects and engineers to look at the building, but they have yet to receive word on what will be done to repair the building’s facade.
***This copy has been edited to reflect the correct title of Gary Bradley as City Manager.
