An inspection by a structural engineer will take place soon at two Downtown Poplar Bluff properties. Exterior renovations have already started at a third property in the historic heart of the city.
The city building department has placed condemned signs on 401 Vine St., and 405-407 Vine St., explained building inspector Tony Chilton, but it is not for the purposes of demolition.
A report is needed from a structural engineer before the city will allow the buildings to be occupied, he said.
Owners of the buildings have indicated the inspections will take place soon, he said, and that the goal is still to continue making repairs to the historic structures.
Both buildings survived the 1927 tornado that destroyed much of Poplar Bluff’s downtown, as well as more than one flood.
Nearly a century later, new owners have been working to stabilize crumbling sections of the exterior, particularly along the back walls. Most of the back wall of 405-407 Vine St. collapsed in 2015. Recent storms also brought down sections of the back wall of 401 Vine St., at the northwest corner where it connected to 405 Vine St., according to city officials.
The building at 401 Vine St. is commonly known as the Hays building and is owned by Vine Street Bluff Development.
The second building has two entrances, 405 and 407 Vine St., and is owned by Eddington Properties LLC.
When city officials are made aware of a problem at a property, they will contact the owner and ask for a written plan to address problems, according to city ordinances. The steps are meant to ensure the safety of the public and adjoining buildings, officials have said previously, while also respecting the rights of building owners.
Plans from owners may detail months of labor to repair damaged or deteriorating structures.
The city had been monitoring the northwest corner of the Hays building, Chilton explained, because of visible issues with the exterior brick elevation, with mortar joints shifting.
Work has been ongoing this week at 201-205 Broadway St., with painting and construction dumpsters visible outside.
The owner, Fraternal Order of the Bears Grand, has had the paint scheme approved, Chilton said, but will need to go back to the Poplar Bluff Historical Preservation Commission for approval of other changes to the windows and exterior.
The building currently has space for storefronts downstairs and apartments upstairs. No additional permits have been filed for renovations at that location as of this week.