MONROE - Potentially dangerous chunks of stucco have been falling off the old Cheese Corp. building on 12th Street, forcing city Building Inspector Dave Powers to close the sidewalk in front of the building Monday after he deemed the situation unsafe.
But losing the white facade is not troubling the World Cheese Destination Center (WCDC) committee, which has plans to buy the building.
"It won't make a bit of difference," said Dr. David Riese, co-chairman of the executive board.
The WCDC committee has a purchase offer for the property pending, provided the building passes DNR and structural inspections, but its vision of the center doesn't include that stucco covering.
"We are hoping to remove all the stucco," said Sharon Riese, executive board co-chairman. "We like the look of the original brick (underneath)."
Powers said small pieces of plaster have been falling off the building for years, but that some of the recent chunks weighed 5 to 10 pounds apiece, creating a public danger.
Powers said the building's owners, Ron and Greg Smith, responded promptly to resolve the situation by hiring Coplien Painting Inc. to take down the loose cement.
Mark Coplien said his company is removing only loose stucco at this time.
Powers said the stucco was loosened by a combination of moisture behind the plaster and the freezing-thawing process during winters.
Normally, permits and request approvals are needed to change building facades in the downtown historic district. But Powers said in this case, the immediate need for safety overrules the preservation of the building's face.
Built in 1888, the building was originally a brewery before becoming a cheese factory. It is within the city's historic district and was placed on the National Registry of Historical Places in 1982.
Dr. Riese is the chairman of the City of Monroe Historic Preservation Commission.
- Holly Garey contributed to this report.
But losing the white facade is not troubling the World Cheese Destination Center (WCDC) committee, which has plans to buy the building.
"It won't make a bit of difference," said Dr. David Riese, co-chairman of the executive board.
The WCDC committee has a purchase offer for the property pending, provided the building passes DNR and structural inspections, but its vision of the center doesn't include that stucco covering.
"We are hoping to remove all the stucco," said Sharon Riese, executive board co-chairman. "We like the look of the original brick (underneath)."
Powers said small pieces of plaster have been falling off the building for years, but that some of the recent chunks weighed 5 to 10 pounds apiece, creating a public danger.
Powers said the building's owners, Ron and Greg Smith, responded promptly to resolve the situation by hiring Coplien Painting Inc. to take down the loose cement.
Mark Coplien said his company is removing only loose stucco at this time.
Powers said the stucco was loosened by a combination of moisture behind the plaster and the freezing-thawing process during winters.
Normally, permits and request approvals are needed to change building facades in the downtown historic district. But Powers said in this case, the immediate need for safety overrules the preservation of the building's face.
Built in 1888, the building was originally a brewery before becoming a cheese factory. It is within the city's historic district and was placed on the National Registry of Historical Places in 1982.
Dr. Riese is the chairman of the City of Monroe Historic Preservation Commission.
- Holly Garey contributed to this report.