Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Dec. 17, 2024 – The City Council voted 11-0 to condemn the old Citizens Bank building on Tuesday.
City Councilwoman Janice Porter was absent. The resolution saw no discussion from the City Council or comment from the public in attendance.
“Tonight’s condemnation process represents another step in a complicated legal process associated with the old Citizens Bank building,” Mayor Harold Copenhaver said in a statement. “Our next step will be to retain a construction manager and move as quickly as legally possible to hire professionals to remove the building and reopen that block of Main Street and restore normalcy for our downtown businesses, residents and patrons.”
Due to the legal matters surrounding the property, Copenhaver could not provide further comments. There is currently no official timeline for demolition.
Bruce Burrow, with One Main Square LLC, owns the 70-year-old building located at 100 W. Washington Ave., while Andy Smith with Laurel Park LLC owns the land the building sits on. In a news conference Oct. 18, Copenhaver said demolition costs would be presented to Burrow, Smith, and/or their legal counsels.
Previously, the City has said excavation is the most likely method of demolition. The building cannot be imploded due to remaining asbestos.
Parts of Main Street have been shut down since Sept. 25 when a bulge was noticed on the side of the seven-story building. Since then, there have been alternate traffic patterns downtown and a protection wall installed in front of First Horizon Bank.
The condemnation resolution first went before the Public Safety Council Committee on Nov. 19, where it passed unanimously. Burrow, Smith and their legal counsels then had to be provided a 20-day condemnation notice before it could go before the full City Council. Tuesday’s meeting was what best matched that timeline.