Old Sparta Hardware Clean Up Underway

The process to clean up the property of the Old Sparta Hardware Store and debris from the facility now underway.

The owner demolished the building in June and the rubble has been sitting since then. Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery said with rubble not being picked up months after the demolition the city decided to take action and speed the process up.

“The owner was taking bids from people and seeing what was cost-effective for him to try and get it cleaned up,” Lowery said. “And I don’t know the bid process can sometimes be bad but regardless of that we did ask him to expedite that a little bit through a letter.”

Lowery said the property owner assured him the property would be cleaned up by the end of this week. Lowery said he is glad the issue is finally being addressed without the city having to clean up the property.

“I want it to be done with,” Lowery said. “I want the empty lot to be there. I think it creates a safety hazard right now.”

Lowery said fortunately businesses surrounding the property were not largely impacted. Lowery said once the cleanup is finished the property owner and city will look at what is next for the property.

“We can start looking at seeing what we need to do if we are going to rebuild anything and what his plans are for the building,” Lowery said. “That’s in our historic district and maybe get that cleaned up.”

Lowery said with Liberty Square this weekend it will be good to have the area cleaned up beforehand.