Demolition for the former Otto’s location and other nearby vacated businesses in DeKalb began Monday, following the completed sale last month of the property on the southeast corner of Lincoln Highway and First Street.
The Cornerstone Development project involves tearing down four buildings at that corner -- including the former Otto’s, Mediterraneo and Ducky’s buildings -- and constructing a new four-story mixed-use building with planned restaurants and stores at street level and luxury apartments above.
DeKalb resident Joe Bloyd and his wife, Dianne, made a day out of watching the demolition. They passed the time with other onlookers recalling previous businesses that once inhabited the property.
“A friend of mine came in and told me this building on the right used to be a Model T dealership. And I didn’t know that,” Joe Bloyd said. “I go back to early 1960s.”
Bloyd says he has lived in DeKalb for his whole life and is all for the incoming project.
“I back it; this building has been empty for a long time, so why not renew?” Bloyd said. “You hear all about ‘renew DeKalb’… well, let’s renew DeKalb.”
The DeKalb Planning and Zoning Commission okayed the rezoning request for the project in February. Construction could take up to a year.
First Street northbound lanes in DeKalb will close Tuesday and Wednesday at Franklin Street, two blocks south of Lincoln Highway. A temporary detour will be set up at that time.
