HANCOCK — The demolition and clean up of the former Coast to Coast Hardware building at 224 Quincy St. in Hancock is expected to conclude within a week. The property was considered in blighted condition and not savable according to Hancock City Manager Mary Babcock. With some blighted buildings in Hancock empty for up to 10 years, she sees it as a a great improvement to the downtown. “This, to me, is like an intermediary success that we have cleared this lot and made it available and ready for a developer,” Babcock said. “It’s not so cumbersome when people look at it now.”

While the work continues, Babcock cautions residents to stay behind the dividers, which have sometimes been pushed into the first lane of traffic. “It is not a place for people to go and pick and see what they can find within the remnants, because there’s equipment left there, and it is just a public hazard right now,” Babcock said.

Babcock also explained that people need to keep away from the area especially the back area which is private property. Once the cleanup is complete, fencing will be put around the property some postings for those interested in purchasing the site.

The property was purchased by the Hancock Downtown Development Authority in 2022 and there are currently no plans for the lot involving the city. Babcock said many city residents have asked why the property is not being turned into a parking lot. She said but the private property includes access to the lower level which prevents that idea.

The property is a redevelopment ready community priority site and there is hope a developer will purchase the site, though Babcock suggested it will likely take a year to a year and a half before a developer could look into grant opportunities and get everything in place for development.

“The city definitely would like to sell it to somebody that would do something with it. There’s the opportunity to put parking underneath it and then maybe a retail on the ground floor with hopefully some apartments above it. We just have to find the right person,” Babcock said.

Babcock added there is more information on the property on the city’s website and she would love a call from anyone interested in the site.