Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Brewton City Council took steps to approve the demolition of two properties within the city.

Steve Yuhasz spoke to the council to give information on residences located at 118 Lynbrook Drive and 21 Eula Drive. A business facility located at 1023 Douglas Avenue was also included in the topic of demolition.

Previously, the City Council has approved a time-frame for improvements to the dilapidated residence at 118 Lynbrook Drive. However, Yuhasz said that no improvements have been made at the location to stop the demolition process.

“The has been no improvement or progress at the location,” Yuhasz told the council. :The yard has been cut and cleaned and some debris has been removed. The property owner has paid nearly $1,000 in redemption costs and has shown a plan for further improvements. Pressure washing was planned at the residence, but has not happened due to what I suspect is weather issues.”

Yuhasz said he believed the owner had intentions to continue to improve the property.

Councilwoman Carrie Brown suggested the council extend a little time to allow the owner a chance to make those improvements needed to halt demolition. Following Brown’s lead, the council agreed to extend time to March 8 to allow the owner to proceed with improvements.

A residence at 212 Eula Street was also set for demolition by the City of Brewton if improvements were not made on the property.

Yuhasz told the council that no work had been started on the property to indicate a plan for repairs.

“We have sent the notification and have not heard from the owner,” Yuhasz said. “The time has elapsed. This is a small structure and is definitely a nuisance in the neighborhood.”

After some discussion, the council approved moving ahead with demolition at the Eula Street location. RMCC was the low bidder on the demolition project at a cost of $1,250 to the city. No time frame for the demolition was given.

One large building in Brewton will be set for demolition as a result of Monday’s discussions by the council.

The former Brewton Heights Shopping Center locationn at 1023 Douglas Avenue will be demolished based on the council’s approval Monday.

Yuhasz said a request for demolition will be sent to the owner of the building which will be torn down at the owner’s expense.

Mayor Yank Lovelace said the cost of the demolition will be the responsibility of the owners, Namdar of Great Neck, New York.

“This is a larger piece of property and will be a larger expense,” Lovelace said. “We will bear the cost of the residence demolitions, but this will be at the expense of the owners.”

The city first addressed the issue of the old shopping center in November 2020 and had conversations with owners and developers for the property. With the current state of disrepair of the building, the owners have declared it beyond repair and have no prospects for development at that location.

No time frame was given as to when the demolition of the center would begin.