MARYSVILLE, Calif. — The demolition of Hotel Marysville, which was rendered a total loss after a fire earlier this year, began Wednesday.
Around 8 a.m., Roseville hazardous removal company JM Environmental started tearing down the building located along E Street between Fourth and Fifth streets. John Moore, the demolition company’s founder, said staff prepared the building last week by cleaning out its storm drains and taking other environmental prerequisites.
“We're using a long arm excavator with a processing thumb on it,” Moore said. “We've got high water and mid water for emissions control. We've got the best operator in the seat that I know, and we will bring the building down safe and compliant. It’s going to be a fun show to watch.”
Around 11:15 p.m. Saturday, June 15, a fire destroyed the building. Marysville declared a state of emergency less than a week after the blaze as it created both a public safety concern and a transportation nightmare. Highway 70 closed over concerns the building could potentially collapse.
Business owners expressed frustration in July over the road closures and worried then the shutdowns would reduce business during the holidays.
In October, tensions were high between Hotel Marysville operations and Marysville city leaders after a panel ordered the building’s demolition. Hotel representatives said the panel’s decision was the city’s way of evading restoration efforts. The panel was made up of three members unaffiliated with either party.
Marysville eventually sued hotel owners, ending last month with a $700,000 settlement in which the city got the title to the building.
One of the city’s top priorities after demolition began Wednesday is to quickly reopen Highway 70. Parts of the project are expected to be completed by next month, but the building won’t be entirely gone until summer 2025.
The fire's cause is still under investigation, a fire captain told ABC10 on Wednesday.
