Plans to follow through with the demolition of the historic Robins Theatre in downtown Niles first came to light in October and Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz walked our reporter Mason Cole and photographer R. Michael Semple through the dilapidated building.

Cole described the inside of the building as an apocalyptic scene. After years of being unmaintained and left to battle the elements, who would expect anything less? Soon afterward, the old Reisman’s Furniture store next door was demolished.

The theater was bound to be next.

Yet, outside of a large hole in the side of the building for a few weeks in January, the building remained fully intact. The project simply seemed to drag on until recently, when Dore & Associates Contracting Inc., based out of Bay City, Michigan, began its work. After months of waiting, the building has slowly, but surely started to come down — and it’s about time.

The demolition first started with the parapet wall across the top of the front of the building. Then, to ensure the safety of cars traveling along South Main Street, the company took its time with the building’s facade before taking down a majority of the front of the building.

Workers now plan to do the same with the back of the building, where they will, again, take precautions to ensure safety.

Delays in the project happened because of a few different things, manpower being one of the issues, but at Wednesday’s city council meeting, Mientkiewicz said he expects to see the demolition pick up speed, and we are happy to hear it.

While this newspaper appreciates the precautions being taken to ensure the safety of travelers in the area, it is also happy to see the project moving forward quickly. Since the demolition was announced, it has been a drawn-out, stop-and-go process that now seems to be gaining momentum.

A building with a large hole in its side and its remnants scattered over the ground can often be an eyesore. But, with the project moving forward, the city can put plans into action on how it wants to use the space, and this newspaper is excited to see what officials come up with.