MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - No more excuses, get it fixed now; that's what an angry judge told the owners of a collapsed building in downtown Memphis.
The building is 118 Madison Avenue, between Second and Main Streets. The roof collapsed more than a year ago on March 26, 2011 after heavy rain. The owners want more time to fix it up but in court the judge said no way.
The collapsed building shares a wall with the building behind it, 119 Court Avenue. The city's fire inspector told both property owners someone needs to do major repairs no later than April 9th.
"I am not happy with where we've gone so far. I thought by now this case would've settled,” said Judge Larry Potter in Environmental Court Wednesday afternoon.
The case hasn’t settled. The building is still sitting behind a huge concrete barricade, blocking one lane of traffic, and missing a roof. Memphis Fire Inspector Kevin Dulin says the building is becoming more dangerous every day.
"I'm watching the wall, it's very unstable," said Kevin Dulin in court. “It's bowing on the first floor and in the middle. This is not anywhere near the crack.”
Dulin gave the owners 30 days to make some kind of repairs or face more fines from the city.
"It's time for both parties to move forward to do something to repair the wall,” Dulin said.
That won't happen until someone forks over the money.
"So you expect Blake to pay for, a, repair the wall and, b, pay the engineer?” asked property owner Robert Blake’s attorney, Leland McNabb. Dulin responded, “Someone is going to have to pay for the engineer and the wall repair, yes sir."
City officials aren't the only ones sick and tired of the huge eye sore in downtown Memphis.
“As we walked by it looks pretty run down and dirty,” said Patricia Toussaint, a tourist from New York.
“We want it finished! I mean look you can't even drive up and down the street and it's just absolutely ridiculous,” said Memphian Robert Hayes.
If no major repairs are done by April 9 there will be more fees and fines for both property owners. Both parties are due back in court on April 10th at 10:30 a.m.
