The owner of a fire-damaged historic downtown Moline church building has until Jan. 8 to raze it or start making repairs.
A notice sent to owner Curtis Lewis says the city could seek a demolition order if neither action is taken, the Quad-City Times reported Friday.
Founded in 1876 by Swedish immigrants as First Mission Covenant Church, the building was long-vacant when it caught fire Oct. 24.
Moline’s neighborhood improvement officer sent the notice last month to Lewis, according to the newspaper.
Repairs need to be made to windows, doors, walls, ceilings and floors. All mechanical and electrical systems also must be to city code before gas, electric and water service is restored.
“Many repairs … will require permits and inspections by the city,” the city’s notice states. “Some violations may need to be assessed by an architect or structural engineer to determine the extent of fire damage so that they can come up with a code compliant plan for required repairs.”
Extensions may be granted for repairs, according to the notice.
Lewis, who bought the building about a year ago, could not be reached for comment, the newspaper reported.
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