PINE BLUFF -- At least three aging buildings in Pine Bluff have collapsed over the past year, spilling rubble onto Main Street's sidewalks. Another is in danger of toppling any day, city inspectors say.
But the mess will soon be cleaned up, thanks to a man known as "Mr. Brick."
Danny Bradshaw, the owner of Mr. Brick Antique Brick Buy and Sell, has purchased the former Band Museum, the former Veterans of Foreign Wars post and the former Kahn jewelry buildings with plans to tear them down and resell the bricks and other usable items, Pine Bluff Mayor Debe Hollingsworth said Friday.
Attempts to contact Bradshaw were unsuccessful.
Hollingsworth said Bradshaw and his crews are supposed to begin cleaning up the sites Sunday. She added that she can't wait for the day to arrive.
"This is just like something came from heaven," the mayor said. "And the city won't have to spend 1 cent. It's just a miracle that we were able to find someone like Mr. Bradshaw."
The area of Main Street between Fourth and Fifth avenues, where the buildings sit, was blocked off after the Band Museum building and VFW post collapsed on Feb. 21.
Last month, the road was partially reopened. But last week, the section was closed once again after inspectors became concerned that the Kahn building was in danger of collapse.
Another structure at Fourth Avenue and Main Street collapsed two years ago. That site has since been leveled and is now a clean slab of concrete.
City inspectors and local architects have said there is no one reason why so many buildings in downtown have fallen over the past few years.
Pine Bluff architect Dave Sadler said many downtown buildings weren't constructed with the best materials and that a lack of maintenance over the years is behind the recent collapses.
"If you don't shore these old buildings up properly and maintain them, they just won't survive over time," Sadler said.
Hollingsworth said that some building owners have neglected to maintain their properties, contributing to the fragility of downtown structures.
Also on Main Street, the fate of the partially collapsed Shriner's building is hung up in a legal struggle.
The building's owner, Garland Trice, has told city officials that he plans to restore the building, which partially collapsed on July 25, 2014. But there have been no signs of such work being done.
After failed attempts to get Trice to clean up or repair his property, the city cited him earlier this year with a violation of the city's building and property ordinance. A court date has not been set.
Trice said he felt bullied by the city, which he said hasn't afforded him enough time to work on his building.
Currently, he has a 30-day permit to repair the roof, which caved in onto the third floor. The southbound lanes of Main Street in front of the building remain closed.
"Right now, it's in the hands of the court," Hollingsworth said. "It's no longer in the city's hands."
The city is also working to clear derelict buildings from other areas of town.
The City Council recently condemned the former America's Best Inn on Harding Street, about 2 miles from downtown. The vacant property has broken windows and doors and is full of gritty mattresses and other items.
The owner, Manjula Sheth of Chattanooga, Tenn., has been given 30 days to clean up the property or face legal action from the city. Attempts to contact Sheth were unsuccessful.
Many who work and shop around downtown say they're pleased to see the building cleanup efforts.
Pine Bluff resident Rhonda Champion, who works for a downtown bank, said she has been scared to walk in the area, fearing another collapse.
"It's a real public safety hazard," Champion said. "I used to walk around the block with some co-workers, but we stopped. Once the buildings are cleared out, we will all feel a lot safer, and it will look so much better downtown."
James Jones of Pine Bluff has been documenting the building collapses with a series of photos that he has converted into artlike renderings using computer software.
On a hot afternoon last week, Jones stood near the debris mound, snapping shot after shot. He said he finds beauty in the different shapes of jagged concrete and bent metal.
But, like others, he will also be glad when it's gone.
"That's why I am taking pictures, to remember that this happened," Jones said.
"It's documenting history. It's something to show someone one day and say, 'Look, this happened here.' We are losing our history right now. At least I can have something to remember it by."
State Desk on 07/27/2015