Statement from the City on 209 W. 2nd St. N. Building

The August 10, 2020 derecho caused widespread damage in the City of Newton including significant damage to several buildings. The building owners of 209 W. 2nd St. N., Chedester Properties, LLC, failed to make repairs leaving the City with no choice but to seek legal recourse on behalf of our citizens to require the owner to make necessary repairs or demolish their building. That legal proceeding was resolved on October 2, 2023, through a Settlement Agreement between the two parties wherein Chedester Properties, LLC agreed to demolish the building as soon as possible but no later than February 2, 2024.

As we approach the 4-year anniversary of the 2020 derecho, 209 W. 2nd St. N. has yet to be demolished. We are six months past the demolition date in the Settlement Agreement and the property owners have repeatedly asked the court for multiple extensions. The City of Newton has worked in good faith to resolve this matter, and we will continue to do so until the building is demolished. Our next day in court is September 10, 2024, at which time the City will continue to ask the court to compel Chedester Properties, LLC to adhere to the Settlement Agreement and demolish their building.