Demolition continues at Ida’s restaurant in Arnold; city looking for money to pay for work

As a contractor continues to remove debris from the remains of a fire-ravaged former restaurant on Fifth Avenue, Arnold officials are trying to finalize how to pay for the work.

The building at 1605 Fifth Ave. that once housed Ida’s Place collapsed Sunday — a day before its demolition was scheduled to begin.

No one was injured.

A fire ravaged the three-story building five years ago. There was no insurance.

A contractor continued to removed debris Tuesday. Mayor Joseph Bia said the demolition should be complete by the end of the week.

The city isn’t sure how it will pay for the demolition project just yet, said Rick Rayburg, community development director for Arnold.

Officials first will apply for a federal Community Development Block Grant, which the city receives annually. The city has in hand previous CDBG grants totaling about $40,000 that could cover the demolition costs, Rayburg said, but the city must first file the paperwork to redirect the funds first.

The emergency demolition was planned last week as the building “was in bad enough shape,” Rayburg said. “We saw it was an issue that was dangerous.”

Last week, the city worked with the building’s owner, Ida Peluso, and her attorneys to transfer the deed to the city last Friday, city officials said.

Since the building had already collapsed when the contractor arrived Monday, the city will likely save some money on the demolition, Rayburg said.

He declined to release demolition estimates.