The contractor removing paint from the exterior of the Darigold Building in downtown Astoria will resume sandblasting today, but will conduct the work after business hours.

The sandblasting will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. The contractor, Rose City Contracting, expects to complete the work Wednesday. The city of Astoria granted a temporary waiver of rules that prohibit construction activity after 6 p.m.

The project – removing asbestos-laden paint from the structure in preparation for its demolition – began last week, but was suspended after city officials informed Clatsop County, the property owner, of noise complaints. The county and contractor voluntarily halted the work Thursday in order to pursue other removal methods.

After discussions with the contractor, the county has elected to proceed with sandblasting the north and west walls of the building, because the scaffolding, sheeting and other material is already in place and the work is expected to be finished in just two days, during the evening.

For the south and east walls of the building, the contractor will employ power-washing instead of sandblasting in order to reduce potential noise problems. That phase of the project is expected to begin next week.

The Darigold Building is being demolished to make way for a complex housing a clinic for Coastal Family Health Center and offices for local social service providers.