Granary Deconstruction Begins

The city voted to dismantle the Teweles and Brandeis Grain Elevator Nov. 21, 2017. Photo by Myles Dannhausen Jr.

The deconstruction of the Teweles and Brandeis Grain Elevator on Sturgeon Bay’s west waterfront began Friday, Feb. 23.

Kiesow Enterprises is dismantling the structure at the city’s direction, which came as a result of a raze order issued by Fire Chief Tim Dietman on Oct. 17. The deconstruction is expected to take seven to 10 days.

Kiesow was awarded a $66,000 contract to dismantle and store the building. The city will pay the fee after refusing to consider nearly $1.5 million in donations from private donors pledged to solidify and repurpose the structure. The pledge was made through the Door County Community Foundation in October, but the Common Council never put discussion of the pledge or its parameters on its agenda.

Earlier this month the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued a declaratory ruling on the Ordinary High Water Mark on the west waterfront property that the Granary sits on. That ruling placed the Granary below that mark, meaning the property cannot be used for private development.