Demolition has been completed at the new location for Taco Diablo and Lulu’s, two restaurants that closed during the last academic year, said Mark Muenzer, the city’s director of community development.

The new plot at 1026 Davis St. previously housed Tom Thumb Hobby & Crafts. Last year, the city approved a permit allowing the owners to raze the existing building and begin construction. They applied for a demolition permit on Jan. 8, Muenzer said.

Taco Diablo, a Mexican restaurant previously located at 1029 Davis St., was destroyed in a fire along with two other businesses on Dec. 29, 2013. Lulu’s, which served Asian food and was previously located at 804 Davis St., closed in February.

Last year, the city also approved the submission for what the two-story building for the restaurants will look like, Muenzer said. Floor plans show additional ground floor room for retail space, he told The Daily in June.

The owners and others involved in the construction of the building are waiting on a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District permit, which is a utilities permit, Muenzer said.

“When I have spoken to the developer and the architect, they’ve indicated they want construction to begin as soon as possible,” he said.

Muenzer said he thinks construction will begin within the next month and take about a year.

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