Downtown buildings come down

When people drove by last week they probably noticed that cleanup began on Hiram Street after the Oct. 17 fire that destroyed two buildings and caused severe damage to others.

Atlanta City Manager David Cockrell says “the cleanup is going well and should be completed by Feb 14 weather permitting. There are two properties involved and both are being cleaned up at the same time by the same contractor for the economy of scale pricing. The city is taking on the financial responsibility for only one side under a demolition order from the city council. The owner was uninsured. Once we’re completed we will file liens against the property and the council will consider civil legal actions if recommended by the city attorney. The anticipated cost of cleanup for the city is approximately $95,000.”

When asked about future plans for the sites, Cockrell responded by saying, at this point, he says there are “no plans. Our goal was to make the site safe and then Work with the various stakeholders to determine the next step.”

On October 17 police responded to a call of smoke from East Texas Tumblers, quickly having to battle a blaze that destroyed the East Texas Tumblers and spread to the Allday building also destroying that structure, before being stopped at the Cobblestone Gifts building, but not before causing extreme smoke and water damage to it and the Rabbit Patch. Since then the Rabbit Patch has reopened.

Bobby Ray Denton has been accused of starting the fire in the upstairs portion of the East Texas Tumblers building.