SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPTIOL CITY NOW) – Moving Pillsbury Forward is continuing on its process of tearing down the former Pillsbury plant — including the 224-foot-tall headhouse, which has become the tallest building in Springfield to ever come down. As the active demolition continues, Chris Richmond was a guest on the WTAX Morning Newswatch discussing the demolition and the Pilsbury Project.

“We started large scale demolition in mid-September last year, we are in our 13th month of large-scale demolition, I used to joke around with folks that we had five large buildings, a six story, a nine story, a 10 story, an 11 story, and the one that’s coming down this week, comparable to about a 20-story building.”

Richmond explains how this is the tallest building to come down in Springfield.

“This is kind of the historic next step of the project where the 3rd tallest building at 224 feet tall in Springfield, the tallest building at Pillsbury is being torn down. It, for a time, was the second tallest building in Springfield, when it was built in 1929, just behind the Illinois State Capitol at 361 feet. The first tallest one ever to come down. “

Richmond goes onto explain how the Pilsbury Project is going.

“It’s been ongoing, really fun. You know, we gave a talk, the end of last month, about the history of Pillsbury. He had 60 people there for brown bag lunch at the historic Ursuline Academy. We’re given another talk on December 8th, about the Pillsbury Project itself. What has gone on these last several years, gives some detail about that.”