Jacksonville seeks court approval to demolish fire-damaged apartment building

Jacksonville leaders were preparing to ask the city council to waive bids and accept a demolition proposal for 342 West State Street, but only if a court first clears the way. The vacant three-story, 21-unit apartment building has been a downtown hazard since fire gutted it in January.

The fire broke out around 6 a.m. on January 15, with no one inside the building. Jacksonville Fire Department crews found heavy fire concentrated on the third floor and attic, and parts of the roof and interior collapsed during the response. Firefighters first concentrated on keeping the flames from spreading to nearby structures, including the building next door at 340 W. State St.

After the fire, the property was fenced off for public safety, and officials have described it as damaged beyond repair. Mayor Andy Ezard has said the building is a public health and safety hazard and wants the courts to require the owners to pay for demolition if possible, instead of leaving Jacksonville taxpayers with the bill.

That bill is substantial. The demolition is expected to cost several hundred thousand dollars, with other reporting placing the likely total between $400,000 and $500,000. For a downtown block that has already been disrupted by fire damage and temporary closures, the next legal step may determine whether work can finally begin or the city must keep waiting.

Ownership has complicated the case. Reports identified the property owner as Jay Bean LLC of Colorado, and reporting in March said the company had already been in contact with the city before the fire because of fines levied in October. After the blaze, city officials said they were unable to reach the owners and began moving toward demolition.

The West State Street property has become more than a single building problem. City leaders have treated it as both a neighborhood safety issue and a visible eyesore in an important part of downtown Jacksonville. If the court gives approval, the city could move forward with tearing it down and finally remove a burned-out structure that has lingered on one of the city’s main streets for months.

The council’s agenda also showed how many costly projects Jacksonville is trying to manage at once. Alongside the demolition item, aldermen were expected to consider waiving bids for golf course purchases and repairs, giving the South Main Street contract to KE Vas, and approving design work by Hutchison Engineering for a new bridge on East College over Mauvaisterre Creek.