The Muscatine City Council is moving forward with a plan to stabilize the 200 block of East 2nd Street, aiming to safely return residents to their homes and reopen affected businesses as soon as possible.
The decision was made during Tuesday night’s council meeting, where members agreed that stabilization is the safest and fastest path toward restoring the block.
“The safety of our residents continues to be the top priority for the City,” said Mayor Brad Bark. “I am pleased our City Council has found a path forward that puts the residents and businesses first.”
The City is partnering with Walter P. Moore engineering firm on a stabilization plan expected to take approximately six months. Work will begin with temporary shoring of 201 East 2nd Street, followed by continued demolition of 201 and 203 East 2nd Street, and the installation of permanent bracing to secure the remaining structures. Both buildings have been unoccupied since November.
A partial collapse of the shared wall between 201 and 203 last month destabilized the block. In response, the City and APEX Engineering conducted foundation inspections throughout the area, leading to precautionary evacuations to ensure resident safety.
The City and Walter P. Moore are developing a detailed cost estimate and timeline for shoring and demolition. Several property owners will also need to address additional safety issues identified during inspections before their buildings can be brought fully up to code.
The City continues to pursue outside funding and resources to support stabilization, demolition, and necessary repairs.
