In Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, preparations to demolish the State Road Shopping Center plaza are underway. Officials say that the plaza should be nothing more than a memory by this fall. Cuyahoga Falls is expected to award a nearly $2 million contract Monday to demolish the plaza. The money comes from the state of Ohio. The use of the funds was approved on June 22.

Falls Community Development Director Sue Truby said 14 companies are expected to place bids on the project. picked up bid packages for the project. ”We’ve established an aggressive timeline to meet the ultimate goal of redevelopment by 2010,” Truby said.

The asbestos abatement is scheduled to begin on August 3. Asbestos abatement is a costly but necessary measure to protect workers and nearby building occupants from inhaling the toxic substance during demolition. Asbestos can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma, a rare cancer, moves aggressively through the body. Mesothelioma can kill victims within mere months after diagnosis. There is no cure for mesothelioma cancer, although several treatment options are available. Oncologists like Dr. Stephen Yang of Johns Hopkins University continue to work on discovering a cure, with the hope that this aggressive and painful cancer can be eradicated.

Prior to asbestos abatement, utilities will need to be disconnected. Demolition is expected to begin after the asbestos abatement has been completed, ideally sometime on August 21.

The city bought the plaza last year for the princely sum of $10.2 million. The property will be developed by Cleveland’s Stark Enterprises. The new project, known as Portage Crossing, will be a retail marketplace. Developers hope that an upscale grocery store will move into the space.

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