Crews demolished the former Mel’s Lumber and True Value Hardware Store at 120 First St. The building had served the Auburn community for a half-century, but it has been closed for many years.

In 2005, a company owned by Jeff Oliphant, the developer behind the Auburn Professional Plaza east of City Hall and the Auburn Justice Center remodel, bought the property. Oliphant and his partners then entered into a contract with South County Housing and Outreach (SCHO) that allowed the organization to use the building for various nonprofit purposes, including storage and alternative meeting space.

Now, four years later, Oliphant is tearing down Mel’s.

“There’s a lot of historical significance, but the building is completely unusable and dilapidated, and we’re in need of parking and some further development, so Mr. Oliphant and his partners are working to make that site more usable in the interim for Auburn residents,” said Michael Hursh, human services manager for the City of Auburn.