Longtime vacant building demolished at Moraine
A building near the North Shore marina at Moraine State Park is being demolished.
The structure previously had housed several restaurants and operated as a park concession stand throughout the 1990s, but was sitting vacant for about 20 years, according to Moraine park manager Dustin Drew.
Drew said the park only recently acquired the funding necessary to demolish the building through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), although it had been decaying for several years to the point where fixing it became unviable.
“I would say we seriously started talking about demolition about four or five years ago,” Drew said. “The park explored using it as a rental space, and unfortunately, nothing worked, and its condition continued to deteriorate over the years.”
According to Drew, the location of the building was inconvenient for travelers, which could be why restaurants proved unsuccessful, although it was a stop on the bike trail.
The building was always owned by Moraine, which leased the space to businesses, usually on a seasonal basis.
Once the demolition is finished and the space is cleared of debris, the area will be replanted to re-form a natural park space.
Drew said it may take a few more weeks for the foundation to be destroyed and the debris removed from the site.
Drew also said there are no plans to reconstruct a building on the site, and it will likely serve more utility as a green space.
“Basically we will restore that hillside to its natural grade,” Drew said. “That shoreline is open to fishing; the trail still stops by there, and people can rest on those benches.”
