East Broadway buildings condemned, preservationists lament

Old buildings torn down to make way for progress along busy thoroughfare

By JOHN RECH

news@theeveningtimes.com

West Memphis City Council authorized a new look on East Broadway. Without discussion, aldermen declared five derelict properties in the Main Street preservation district a nuisance. Four of the properties stood in the 800 block. Ward representatives also voted for the wrecking ball at the old train depot, 501 East Broadway.

The city posted ten day notices on the buildings to bring the structure up to code. In previous annual demolition purges by the city were largely marked with absentee and out of state ownership. Not so for the abandoned and neglected Broadway buildings. All the properties listed local owners, but none of them moved for improvements.

Severe roof and structure damage at the depot made any renovation impossible. A labyrinth of liens rendered the building unsellable according to city officials. Preservationists squirmed at the loss of the depot in particular. The building had been moved off a demolition at least once before but legal obstacles prevented restoration or new redevelopment.

Main Street West Memphis Director Deborah Abernathy conceded the depot. Some thought the building could have been a rail museum, a boutique, photography

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studio, a pasta restaurant or a new location for the Main Street Office. Nothing panned out for the building adjacent to both the Watershed sculpture on the landmark Cotton Compress water tank and the new city library.

“After many years of trying to save the depot, we have come to a dead end.” said Abernathy. “We wish it could be different. This particular building was under massive federal liens. We tried to find a legal way to get it released, especially since we had a several people interested in purchasing it. Historical status would not save it. “

Jeff Grissman said he tried to buy the depot.

“River and rail built our little city,” said Grissom. “East Broadway could be the next Beale Street. There is significant historical relevance. [We] can’t get out of our own way. There were too many liens on the property and they would not let me buy it.”

Main Street West Memphis Director Deborah Abernathy surveyed the entire list of buildings city council condemned. The list included properties across the street at 801 and 811 from each other at 801 and 811, and 820 and 822 East Broadway. The roof collapsed and windows shattered at the 811 address. Trees sprouted inside the walls with the abundance of sunshine and rain on the corner at 801. Vines covered the 822 address.

“We at Main Street are very sad at losing these buildings,” said Abernathy. “I assure you our goal is to preserve.”

The dilapidated roof and massive liens on the abandoned train depot made preservation impossible. West Memphis city council declared the building as a nuisance. The building headlined a list of five East Broadway buildings set for the wrecking ball.

Photos by John Rech

The roof collapse and shattered display windows lead city council to condemn the building at 811 East Broadway. The city posted a ten day compliance notice that expired unanswered.