The contracts for the demolition of the marketplace should be official in the next week or so, Laing says, and bulldozers will then start the dirty work on the southern end of the marketplace.

“We don’t have an exact starting date yet,” Laing says. “We will be awarding multiple contracts for the work based on the type of job.”

Tenants on the southern side of the marketplace — from Grace to Broad streets — were out by the Aug. 28 deadline after receiving an eviction notice 90 days earlier.

Businesses on the north side, from Broad to Marshall streets, are required to move out by Nov. 14. Several businesses, including Romaine’s Philly Steak and Deli, and the Georgetown Jewelry Outlet, are still operating. (The food court, at the very northern end, isn’t part of the demolition.)

The city hired consulting firm Greenhorne & O’Mara Inc. to provide relocation services to the displaced businesses, offering packages of up to $50,000. Laing says all of 6th Street’s tenants qualify to receive some form of financial assistance.

Laing said demolition of the northern portion of 6th Street Market will begin shortly after Nov. 14. — Charlie Ban and Scott Bass