Demolition begins on nearly century-old building in Illinois

Demolition began June 26 on the historic Edward Busse Building in downtown Mount Prospect, Illinois, the Daily Herald reports.

The building, which is located at the northeast corner of Northwest Highway and Emerson Street, dates to 1925.

Nicholas & Associates and affiliate Wingspan Development Group plan to build a commercial building featuring a two-story restaurant, Wingspan spokeswoman Dawn Fletcher Collins tells the Daily Herald.

The building was commissioned by Edward Busse, a member of one of the village's founding families, says Emily Dattilo, director of the Mount Prospect Historical Society.

“That was the beginning of Mount Prospect's real modernization efforts,” she tells the Herald.
“And keep in mind, this is less than a decade after Mount Prospect officially incorporated, so, they were doing a lot to improve the town.”

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The demolition began around 7 a.m. June 26 with the arrival of a two-man crew from Albrecht Enterprises Inc., based in Des Plaines, Illinois. Personnel began the demolition by dismantling a wing of the building that was the former home of Mount Prospect Eye Care and, before that, Busse Foods, opened by Edward Busse’s son, Edwin.

Once the wing was reduced to rubble, the crew moved next door to prep the former location of Busse’s Flowers and Gifts and Van Driel’s pharmacy for demolition, according to the Herald.

Jeff Noesen, an excavation worker for Albrecht Enterprises, says the company put an emphasis on safety for the job, noting that the site’s proximity to Northwest Highway and Emerson posed concerns about debris spilling onto the street.

Alongside the demolition of the Busse building, workers proceeded with the construction of the HQ Residences on the former site of Mount Prospect's fire and police headquarters. The six-story is expected to include 82 apartments, six-row homes and about 3,200 square feet for a restaurant.