WARREN, Ark. – Warren Mayor Gregg Reep reiterated a promise to demolish unstable buildings downtown before the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival as he met with the city Community and Economic Development Committee Wednesday.
Present were Chairwoman Angela Marshall and Alderwoman Memory Burks-Frazer with Alderwoman Dorothy Henderson on speakerphone.
“We are very close to doing it,” Reep said. He said The Sandwich Shop and Lighthouse Church have been notified that they will have to cease doing business in the Ederington-Hankins Building and the Sandwich Shop building on Friday, although they will still be allowed to gather their belongings after that date.
By Tim Kessler
Saline River Chronicle Freelance Contributor
Reep told Saline River Chronicle following the meeting that the situation with the Ederington-Hankins Building and Sandwich Shop was unfortunate, but a real safety hazard to the community. He said that multiple experts inspected the structures on behalf of the city, and the overwhelming consensus was that “it’s not a matter if the buildings will collapse, but when.”
Further, Reep said he is hopeful that the Sandwich Shop is able to relocate to a different space in town. He included that his understanding is that the Lighthouse Church is planning to rebuilding on the 278 Bypass.
At the same time, a bid has been accepted by the City Council to demolish the Bryant’s Building. A representative of Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality will have to observe the demolition to ensure asbestos abatement is conducted.
County Judge Klay McKinney has agreed to help take the Bryant’s remains to the county landfill, according to Reep.
The intention is to get all the dangerous buildings down before the Pink Tomato Festival according to Reep.
Marshall said Cato’s and the Hispanic church on Main Street would have to be notified before the Bryant’s Building is demolished.
“It’s our job to protect the citizens,” Burks-Frazer said. “I hate to see them go, but I’d hate to see someone hurt more.”
“I would have liked to save those buildings because they are historic,” Henderson said.
Bradley County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Terrie White said she would contact the former Hunt Pizza owners and Johnny Bradford, owner of The Sandwich Shop, to see if they could work out a rental agreement to relocate the restaurant.
In other action:
- Frazer-Burks, who manages Westside Pool, said plumbing work had been completed. Tiles will be replaced, lighting and cosmetic work done, and partitions placed in the restrooms.
Reep said he would suggest that an administrative procedure relating to cleanup of property be put in place. That would include addressing needs by an alphabetical list of the streets. To be addressed would be issues such as junked cars, grown-up lots, dilapidated buildings and unsightly conditions.
He recommended that the committee consist of one representative from each ward plus an at-large person appointed by the mayor. The committee would make recommendations to the Warren City Council.
“I’m looking for a third party that is not elected to look at these properties,” Reep said.
“Having citizens involved with this, they can get a better understanding of what we deal with,” Marshall said.
- White reported on several new and incoming businesses. S&S Tire Co. recently opened and a tobacco and chicken dinner store has opened in the former KFC building. Yacnorev Community Services recently opened. Mainline Health Services remodeled its offices.
Food trucks are being recruited to come to town, with several already in place.
- Dr. Bob Smalling, chairman of Bradley County Economic Development Corp., met in executive session with the committee members to discuss industrial recruitment.
Before going into the closed session, he said BCEDC recently met with a representative of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission. He said besides a prime prospect, Southeast Arkansas Regional Intermodal Facilities Authority also has another prospect looking at using 100 acres of the 350-acre property.
He said SEARIFA is also hoping to meet soon with Highway Commissioner David Haak of Texarkana to discuss extending the proposed Interstate 69 Corridor to include an 11-mile stretch along Arkansas 425 connecting with Arkansas 35. He also said railroads would be important to bring materials in and out.