Planned demolition causes park closure

TEXARKANA -- Broad Street Park is closed indefinitely as city officials move toward quickly demolishing an abandoned adjacent building after its roof collapsed Wednesday.

Better known as the downtown Pocket Park, the space shares a wall with the condemned Regency House building in the 100 block of East Broad Street.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Regency House's extensively damaged roof collapsed through the remains of the floor beneath, destabilizing the structure and creating the possibility of falling debris.

The city put up barriers and caution tape to block access to the two properties, as well as the sidewalk and one lane of East Broad Street in front of them.

"The only wise option is to demolish the building as soon as possible," Public Works Director Tyler Richards said in an email.

The building was condemned in 2011, and the company that owns it seems to have gone out of business, City Manager Kenny Haskin said.

The state is in the process of auctioning the property. The city will begin demolishing the building as soon as a legally mandated contract bidding process is completed, Richards said.

When the Texarkana Board of Directors approves condemning a structure, notice is given to the property's owner that they have 30 days to obtain a building or demolition permit. If the owner fails to do so, the city may proceed with demolition itself.

It is unclear how the city will pay for what will be an extensive project.

The city's Public Works agency already does not have the budget to bring down all of the city's condemned structures on a waiting list. Demolishing a similar building -- the former Kress and Co. department store on West Broad Street -- cost the city of Texarkana, Texas, more than $629,000 in 2017.

Texarkana, Ark., city officials will place a lien on the property for the cost of the demolition to try to recoup its expenses, the only option available to hold property owners responsible for structures abandoned to become unsafe.

"In a case such as the Regency House, the cost of demolition is so high that it is very likely nobody will ever purchase the property and pay the city's lien," Richards said.

Metro on 08/19/2019

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