Demolition begins this month on the former “Tony’s Town & Country” building in downtown The Dalles to open the site for redevelopment through the city’s Urban Renewal Agency.  Sidewalk closures will occur periodically through October.  The Dalles Urban Renewal Agency purchased the property on East Second Street in 2016.  Since then the agency considered multiple development options, ranging from replacement with multi-story mixed-use to reuse as a fitness center, but none of the plans proved feasible.   Various inspections revealed the high cost to repair and reuse the structure, as well as a significant amount of hazardous material.  The Urban Renewal Board directed staff to pursue demolition and hazardous material abatement to make way for a development-ready site.  The agency received assistance through the City of The Dalles Brownfield Revitalization program to conduct an environmental assessment, including removal of an underground storage tank on Federal Street.