Several downtown cleanup projects were discussed by Warren City Council’s Ways and Means Committee Tuesday which could change the look of the downtown area and effect the Warren City budget.
Chairwoman Dorothy Henderson, Alderwomen Memory Burks Frazer, and Emily Moseley met with Mayor Gregg Reep and Building Official Rob Johnson to discuss the City’s options.
Top photo: A structural engineer has recommended that old Ederington building, the current Sandwich Shop, and the old Hankins building be condemned by the City of Warren as safety hazards. They are situated just south of the Courthouse on Cedar Street in Warren.
Reep said an email was received from a person who bought the former Martin’s Department Store lot at a tax delinquent action without realizing the City had placed a $121,515 lien on the property as a result of the City having performed asbestos abatement and having torn down the fire-damaged building. The person requested that the lien be forgiven.
Reep said he would not recommend removal of the lien.
Johnson said a lien on the property was filed on July 19, 2022. The Arkansas Land Commissioner’s Office held a property auction in September 2022 and the property was then sold.
“We are gatekeepers and need to make good decisions. I don’t see how we could forgive it,” Henderson said.
In other action:
- Reep said of the Bryant’s Building on Main Street, “We can tear the building down when we feel we can afford it.”
Johnson said the Bryant family initially deeded it to Bradley County Chamber of Commerce. The City purchased the property by paying the back property taxes in 2019. He said the City has been given an estimate from contractors to take the building down for around $100,000. The price does not include disposal.
Reep said he recommends amending the City budget to use $75,000 previously earmarked for economic development to use for the cost of demolition. A consensus of the committee members indicated they would recommend that to the full council. The Community and Economic Development Committee will also discuss the issue. SRC has a full report of the later Community and Economic Development Committee which took place after this meeting. Read that report by CLICKING HERE.
- In looking at the Municipal Building roof, Reep said he would ask the City Council to bid out repairs. Roof repairs are also needed on the Emergency Services Building. The council will also be asked to seek bids on that project.
- Consideration was given to purchasing the Marsh Building but Johnson said it has some structural damage.
- Repairs to Warren Cultural Center were considered. Reep said a structural engineer had examined it but an official letter is needed from Warren School Board indicating the school district no longer has any use for it. “If they’re through with it, they need to sign it over to us,” Reep said. He said he would contact the original designers, Cromwell Engineers, and would also send a letter to the School Board.
- Johnson said two estimates had been received on replacing the HVAC unit for the upstairs portion of the Municipal Building. The City Council agenda meeting will discuss declaring an emergency to authorize repairs.
- The Ederington, Sandwich Shop, and Hankins buildings located south of the Courthouse were discussed next. Reep said a certified structural engineer had determined the buildings were dangerous and should be condemned. Once a letter is received from the engineer, the City will send a letter to the property owners and state that they are unsafe.
“We have the authority to ban the buildings from public use,” Reep said. He said Arkansas Municipal League attorneys and City Attorney Murray Claycomb will draft a letter after the engineer’s letter is received and the owners will be given 10 days to agree with the City’s position or offer an alternative plan with a timeline. He said engineers had recommended that the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival not be held near the buildings.
“We’re not running any business out of town. We’re doing it for safety,” Alderman Burks Frazer said.
“If it comes to us tearing the buildings down, I would look at declaring an emergency and having them torn down before the Pink Tomato Festival,” Reep said.
As usual nothing changes here more worried about how this town looks than trying to bring businesses in.
Fix up the square all you want doesn’t change the fact this town is dying little by little.
In 20 years this town will become another Dermott if the incompetence that’s running rampant in the city government is allowed to continue.
The old money has secured their bank account while starving the growth of warren arkansas they’ve kept out every opportunity for warren to line their own greedy pockets.
Tim West, You Nailed it!!! I have lived here 48 years and watched it play out exactly as you described. Old Money lining their greedy, selfish pockets while the town Slowly died. But I predict it won’t take any where near 20 years and Warren will make Dermott look like Park Avenue. The groundwork has already been laid. Eventually you won’t find any small business but if you are looking for LOUD MUSIC AND SPEEDING Warren will be the perfect place to be