Development could add new life to a slice of downtown
Demolition work is set to begin this month on the condemned building downtown that formerly housed the Faith Mission Outreach. The building has been unoccupied for years and has fallen into disrepair. Russellville Building Inspector Bill Fuller condemned the building in May citing roof issues that have led to structural issues inside the building. Water entering the building has caused extensive damage, particularly to the wood.
The latest owner of the building, Chad Warhurst, faced a tough decision after inspecting the damage done. He had hoped he would be able to save the building but then realized that was just not possible.
“It’s beyond the point of saving,” Warhurst said last week. “… It’s just not feasible with the damage that exists. I hate tearing it down.”
However, there’s a silver lining to the clouds of dust and debris that will mark the demolition of the building. Once the structure is razed, work will begin on a new mixed-use commercial building. Mayor David Grissom thinks the result will be a net positive for the city and the project’s developers.
“This should be a very positive addition to our downtown redevelopment efforts,” Grissom
said. We agree, but here’s the deal. It will take at least three years for the work to be completed.
E.B. Carroll, vice president of EcoBuilt Land Development, Inc., has the contract for the demolition and reclamation work. Public safety is his main concern during the demolition, so the work will proceed cautiously. It will take at least a year for the demolition to be completed.
“I would much rather take a full year to demo it and do it safely rather than try to rush it and end up having some sort of unexpected accident,” Carroll said.
And besides, there are some salvageable treasures inside the building that he hopes to preserve. He noted some of the materials in the building could date before 1900. It’s those materials he will focus on saving.
“There’s beautiful, beautiful flooring,” Carroll said. “There’s some beautiful crown molding, and … the original brick is still all over the building. His crews will work carefully as they try to salvage as many of these things as possible. If enough of the old brick can be saved, it could be used on the street-facing side of the replacement structure.
We salute both Warhurst for his willingness to tear down the building that has been an eyesore for years and his vision to rebuild in the same location. And we applaud Carroll for his concerns about public safety, and his interest in salvage pieces of this historic building. Combined, their efforts can become a symbol of what it takes to resurrect property and add new life to the downtown area. Kudos are also due for Russellville city council members, who earlier this month designated five properties as nuisances. Following their action, city workers will begin tearing down a burnedout partial structure at 705 Hawkins Circle and two other structures at 801 White St.
In addition, three other properties were cited as overgrown lots – 608 Burgess, 406 Hall Avenue, and 177 Highsmith Court. The owners will be contacted and given the chance to correct the problems.
Neglected properties can become more than eyesores if left unattended. Overgrown properties and broken-down structures attract rodents, snakes, and illegal dumping, posing direct health risks to the community. Unsecured buildings also invite unauthorized occupants and drug activity. And they drag down local property values, creating severe fire and safety hazards.
It’s great to see city leaders taking a proactive approach in dealing with these properties.
