Dunkirk revives 303 South Main demolition request with $399,950 grant bid
From the City Council meeting on September 14, 2026
Dunkirk reopened its push to demolish 303 South Main Street on Monday with a new OCRA application seeking $399,950 and a $44,500 local match from the Blackford Industrial Development Corporation.
Consultant Mike Kleinpeter told the council the city missed the first funding round by six points and is now applying again before an Oct. 2 deadline. He said the project would tear down the deteriorated downtown building, where rehabilitation would cost more than $1.3 million just to restore structural integrity before any mechanical, electrical, or plumbing work.
The demolition is more complicated because the building shares a load-bearing wall with 322 South Main Street. Kleinpeter said that wall would have to stay in place and be improved so it can handle weather exposure after the demolition.
City and development officials also used the hearing to document prior cleanup and safety concerns for the grant record, including boarded windows, debris from the roof, and reports of unsafe interior conditions.
Source: Meeting transcript — City of Dunkirk - City Council Meeting - September 14, 2026
Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.
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