News Center 7’s Natalie Jovonovich spoke to Mayor Mike Lowrey about the issue.
“Biggest problem is, is that it’s ours,” he said of the building, purchased by the city in 1998 with hopes of renovating it at the time for a possible community center or other use. Plans were quickly abandoned when costs to renovate the building were estimated back then between $3.2 million and $5 million.
“I can’t speak for what the mindset was of the city council years ago when they bought it,” Lowrey said. “I don’t think it was the best choice.”
In addition to graffiti and other vandalism, there are concerns about asbestos inside the building.
Now, the city is left to deal with it, but it’s too expensive for the city to renovate it, or to tear it down.
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