Jacksonville hires contractor to demolish fire-gutted Cherry Apartments site

Jacksonville hired Jaren Industries to demolish the fire-damaged Cherry Apartments at 342 West State Street. Mayor Andy Ezard said the job will cost about $350,000, and the city cleared the legal steps needed before letting the contractor start work.

The three-story apartment building has stood as a vacant shell since a fire broke out just before 6 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2026. Jacksonville firefighters spent about two and a half hours extinguishing the blaze, and no one was hurt. Fire Department Capt. Dan Klendworth said the abandoned structure had years of damage and posed an imminent threat to life and safety, not only to the public but to adjoining buildings.

The fire left the property unsafe, but the teardown did not move quickly. City Council members were still weighing authorization on March 8, and Ezard said the city spent considerable time making sure the project was legally sound before proceeding. He said the structure was a safety concern for neighboring properties.

The Morgan County building immediately east of Cherry Apartments has been unusable since the fire, even though it was intended to eventually house probation and other services. Ezard said the demolition contractor was still trying to identify the least expensive way to remove the building while complying with state law, but he said the city’s priority was to get the job done. Ezard also said grant money was connected to the project, but using it could have required a delay he did not want. The building remained under investigation after the fire, and no arrest had been announced.