An excavation crew began demolishing houses that stood off of Route 59 yesterday.

The properties belong to the city and are being cleared to make way for new development.

“The property is part of the downtown revitalization project,” Economic Development Director Dan Smith said.

The demolition team used a backhoe to tear down one of the houses.

The city has begun removing buildings on the property it has bought in hopes of developing the property and revitalizing downtown Kent.

“We made the investment to obtain the land, and now we’re getting it ready for development,” Smith said.

The diner on the corner of Water and Erie streets that was demolished at the end of February is another example of what the city is doing to move the downtown forward.

The building that housed The Bar’N and the Green Room – among several different bars over the years – is probably going to meet the same fate in the future.

“We’re currently getting rid of the asbestos and the other pre-demolition items checked,” Smith said.

Property is being refined in downtown Kent to attract new businesses and restaurants as well as building a hotel and conference center.

– Ted Hamilton