Batavia City Council gives OK to demolish 135-year-old downtown building
Batavia City Council members decided Tuesday to authorize the demolition of the historic Tin Shop building downtown.
Although the city council signed off on demolishing the building, city staff will continue efforts to relocate and repurpose the structure before calling in the wrecking crews.
The Tin Shop is a two-story wooden structure at 106 N. River St. that was built in 1890. It has been vacant for several years.
The Tin Shop is classified as “contributing” to the city’s downtown historic district. As a result, the city must receive a certificate of appropriateness to allow for relocation or demolition of the building.
Community and Economic Development Director Scott Buening submitted the COA requests on behalf of the city and presented them at the meeting, where he detailed the building’s recent history and failed redevelopment attempts.
The city purchased the building in 2016 as part of a $1.25 million acquisition of property on both sides of River Street between State and Franklin streets for a development project that was eventually scrapped.
Since 2018, the city has tried to market the property to developers to no avail. The city proposed a rehabilitation project for the building in 2024, but after reviewing several proposals, the project was deemed financially infeasible.
The building was used briefly for storage space. But it has been vacant for several years and is in poor condition.
At their Tuesday meeting, city council members voted 9-4 to allow the demolition of the Tin Shop and the adjacent, city-owned garage at 112 N. River St.
Aldermen Leah Leman, Kevin Malone, Sarah Vogelsinger and Mark Uher voted no and Alderman Abby Beck was absent.
According to Buening, the city will continue to try to market the building to be relocated or salvaged and assured council members that the approval would not mean immediate demolition of the building.
When the city decides to proceed with the demolition, contracts for the work must be reviewed and approved by the city council.