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Crews begin demolition of Protano Auto Parts site in DeKalb

November 30, 2020 at 4:30 am CST

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com Wagner Excavating co-owner Jared Wagner works on tearing down a home next to Protano Auto Parts on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. The properties were purchased in January of 2015 during a tax sale, according to Public Works Director Tim Holdeman. The City of DeKalb is demolishing the properties due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. "This is a landmark day for the city," Holdeman said adding that finally being able to demolish the structures on this site the Route 23 corridor is "an important part of the city." (Matthew Apgar)

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com Wagner Excavating co-owner Jared Wagner works on tearing down a home next to Protano Auto Parts on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. The properties were purchased in January of 2015 during a tax sale, according to Public Works Director Tim Holdeman. The City of DeKalb is demolishing the properties due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. "This is a landmark day for the city," Holdeman said adding that finally being able to demolish the structures on this site the Route 23 corridor is "an important part of the city." (Matthew Apgar)

Public Works Management Analyst Patrick DiDiana (left) and Long Range Planner Derek Hiland watch as Jared Wagner, co-owner of Wagner Excavating, begins demolition Wednesday of a house adjacent to Protano Auto Parts in DeKalb. The properties were purchased in January of 2015 during a tax sale, according to Public Works Director Tim Holdeman. The City of DeKalb is demolishing the properties due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. "This is a landmark day for the city," Holdeman said adding that finally being able to demolish the structures on this site the Route 23 corridor is "an important part of the city." (Matthew Apgar)

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com Public Works Director Tim Holdeman, left, and Public Works Management Analyst Patrick DiDiana watch as Jared Wagner, co-owner of Wagner Excavating, begins demolition at a house adjacent to Protano Auto Parts on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. The properties were purchased in January of 2015 during a tax sale, according to Holdeman. The City of DeKalb is demolishing the properties due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. "This is a landmark day for the city," Holdeman said adding that finally being able to demolish the structures on this site the Route 23 corridor is "an important part of the city." (Matthew Apgar)

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com Rick Sipes of DeKalb came to watch the demolition of Protano Auto Parts on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. Sipes used live in the two homes adjacent to the auto shop, where he also worked for 13 years. "That house was bad," Sipes remembered. The properties were purchased in a tax sale by the City of DeKalb in January, 2015, and are being demolished due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. (Matthew Apgar)

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com Wagner Excavating co-owner Jared Wagner walks past Protano Auto Parts on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. The property, along with an adjacent home, was purchased in January of 2015 during a tax sale, according to Public Works Director Tim Holdeman. The City of DeKalb is demolishing the properties due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. "This is a landmark day for the city," Holdeman said adding that finally being able to demolish the structures on this site the Route 23 corridor is "an important part of the city." (Matthew Apgar)

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com An American flag flutters across the street at the American Legion Post #66 as Public Works Director Tim Holdeman, right, and Public Works Management Analyst Patrick DiDiana watch the house adjacent to Protano Auto Parts begin demolition on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. The properties were purchased in January of 2015 during a tax sale, according to Holdeman. The City of DeKalb is demolishing the properties due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. "This is a landmark day for the city," Holdeman said adding that finally being able to demolish the structures on this site the Route 23 corridor is "an important part of the city." (Matthew Apgar)

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com Wagner Excavating co-owner Jared Wagner works on tearing down a home next to Protano Auto Parts on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. The properties were purchased in January of 2015 during a tax sale, according to Public Works Director Tim Holdeman. The City of DeKalb is demolishing the properties due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. "This is a landmark day for the city," Holdeman said adding that finally being able to demolish the structures on this site the Route 23 corridor is "an important part of the city." (Matthew Apgar)

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com Public Works Director Tim Holdeman, left, and Public Works Management Analyst Patrick DiDiana watch as Jared Wagner, co-owner of Wagner Excavating, begins demolition at a house adjacent to Protano Auto Parts on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. The properties were purchased in January of 2015 during a tax sale, according to Holdeman. The City of DeKalb is demolishing the properties due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. "This is a landmark day for the city," Holdeman said adding that finally being able to demolish the structures on this site the Route 23 corridor is "an important part of the city." (Matthew Apgar)

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com Wagner Excavating co-owner Jared Wagner works on tearing down a home next to Protano Auto Parts on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. The properties were purchased in January of 2015 during a tax sale, according to Public Works Director Tim Holdeman. The City of DeKalb is demolishing the properties due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. "This is a landmark day for the city," Holdeman said adding that finally being able to demolish the structures on this site the Route 23 corridor is "an important part of the city." (Matthew Apgar)

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com Public Works Director Tim Holdeman, left, and Public Works Management Analyst Patrick DiDiana watch a house adjacent to Protano Auto Parts is torn down on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. The properties were purchased in January of 2015 during a tax sale, according to Holdeman. The City of DeKalb is demolishing the properties due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. "This is a landmark day for the city," Holdeman said adding that finally being able to demolish the structures on this site the Route 23 corridor is "an important part of the city." (Matthew Apgar)

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com Wagner Excavating co-owner Jared Wagner works on tearing down a home next to Protano Auto Parts on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. The properties were purchased in January of 2015 during a tax sale, according to Public Works Director Tim Holdeman. The City of DeKalb is demolishing the properties due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. "This is a landmark day for the city," Holdeman said adding that finally being able to demolish the structures on this site the Route 23 corridor is "an important part of the city." (Matthew Apgar)

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com Wagner Excavating co-owner Jared Wagner works on tearing down a home next to Protano Auto Parts on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. The properties were purchased in January of 2015 during a tax sale, according to Public Works Director Tim Holdeman. The City of DeKalb is demolishing the properties due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. "This is a landmark day for the city," Holdeman said adding that finally being able to demolish the structures on this site the Route 23 corridor is "an important part of the city." (Matthew Apgar)

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com Wagner Excavating co-owner Jared Wagner works on tearing down a home next to Protano Auto Parts on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. The properties were purchased in January of 2015 during a tax sale, according to Public Works Director Tim Holdeman. The City of DeKalb is demolishing the properties due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. "This is a landmark day for the city," Holdeman said adding that finally being able to demolish the structures on this site the Route 23 corridor is "an important part of the city." (Matthew Apgar)

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com Wagner Excavating co-owner Jared Wagner works on tearing down a home next to Protano Auto Parts on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. The properties were purchased in January of 2015 during a tax sale, according to Public Works Director Tim Holdeman. The City of DeKalb is demolishing the properties due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. "This is a landmark day for the city," Holdeman said adding that finally being able to demolish the structures on this site the Route 23 corridor is "an important part of the city." (Matthew Apgar)

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com Wagner Excavating co-owner Jared Wagner works on tearing down a home next to Protano Auto Parts on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. The properties were purchased in January of 2015 during a tax sale, according to Public Works Director Tim Holdeman. The City of DeKalb is demolishing the properties due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. "This is a landmark day for the city," Holdeman said adding that finally being able to demolish the structures on this site the Route 23 corridor is "an important part of the city." (Matthew Apgar)

Matthew Apgar - mapgar@shawmedia.com Rick Sipes of DeKalb came to watch the demolition of Protano Auto Parts on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 in DeKalb. Sipes used live in the two homes adjacent to the auto shop, where he also worked for 13 years. "That house was bad," Sipes remembered. The properties were purchased in a tax sale by the City of DeKalb in January, 2015, and are being demolished due to asbestos and ground contamination associated with automobile liquids. (Matthew Apgar)