Mount Vernon Mayor Shawn Patterson-Howard has raised the possibility of a mixed-use development replacing the building at 745 S. Third Ave. in the city that formerly housed The Salvation Army. Patterson-Howard spoke as demolition of the building was beginning. The demolition of the building and rubble removal was expected to take 15 days.
Architect Shahin Badaly said he was responsible for both the demolition work “as well as hopefully a nice new development that we’re proposing on this site.”
He said it likely would be a market-rate development that “would have mixed-use in it … to make sure that the uses that we propose have the biggest community benefit possible and that our proposal is not just important for the ownership of the property but also will provide something useful as an example of how we would want development to occur in the city and how it can be not just a symbol but a community benefit.”
Patterson-Howard said that the city can’t bring in the new until it clears a path. She said that the demolition is being done with safety as a focus.
“The taking down of this building that has been closed now for over five years is another clear step that Mount Vernon and our partners are ready to move forward,” Patterson-Howard said. “For decades this 44,000-square-foot building served as a place of refuge and renewal. Salvation Army’s work here supporting recovery, offering second chances and serving the most vulnerable left an indelible mark on our city. Today, as honoring the legacy and service of The Salvation Army, we are also embracing the promise of progress and the future.”
Patterson-Howard described the demolition project as the largest in recent memory in Mount Vernon. She said that the demolition plan includes continuous air quality and asbestos monitoring. She said there also would be vibration monitoring to make sure that the infrastructure and homes in the area are not affected.
“We know that it will disrupt the community and traffic patterns a little bit but we are working very hard to minimize that,” Patterson-Howard said.
“This site holds a great amount of potential,” Patterson-Howard said. “It’s a very nice footprint. There’s a potential for housing, mixed-use development, community-serving facilities; there’s opportunity for retail. This is not just about demolishing a building. It’s about clearing the pathway for investment in Mount Vernon and equity and an opportunity for the south side of Mount Vernon.”
