The Loveland City Council quickly approved a contract for demolition of the buildings in the downtown South Catalyst Project during its meeting Tuesday evening.

Less than 30 minutes into an unusually short one-hour-long meeting, the council voted 8-0 to approve the contract. Council member Troy Krenning was absent.

Hudspeth & Associates of Englewood could start working in the two-square-block area in the next two weeks, putting up fencing and starting to wrap buildings in plastic as an asbestos-remediation safety measure, according to Mike Scholl, economic development manager for the city.

The city has bought all the properties in the area but three and removed 50 large trees. It is negotiating with Fort Collins developer Brinkman Partners, which could be chosen to develop the multiuse project in August.

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