NORWICH – Six months ago, the City of Norwich received $300,000 for the demolition construction of city-owned properties as part of the Restore New York Grant. Now, with the demolition of first of the three area properties included in the grant proposal, the city is starting to put that money into action.

On Monday, Burrell’s Excavating began demolishing the multi-family home located at 52 Fair St. in Norwich. The property has been vacant since a fire condemned the building several years ago. Demolition began around 10 a.m. An hour later, the structure was gone.

The city plans to move an existing house to the Fair Street property. A Canasawacta Street home, known as the Rice house, will be moved to the new location. Currently, City Planning and Community Economic Development Specialist Todd Dreyer explained, the city is soliciting bids for a general contractor to prepare the house for the move. “We have yet to go out to bid for the actual house moving firm,” Dreyer said. The city will also have to contract an engineering firm to design the foundation and the basement at 52 Fair St. before the Rice house can be moved. “We’d like to get it done during the fall, in this construction season,” Dreyer said.