At its Nov.13 regular meeting, the Paris City Council accepted a bid from Lloyd D. Nabors Demolition to raze the Belford Building at the intersection of South Main and West Austin Streets.
“The demolition will complete a lengthy legal process to remove this dangerous structure,” City Attorney Stephanie Harris said. “After they clear the property, I anticipate the City Council will authorize a Sheriff’s sale based on the City’s judgment lien against the current owner to facilitate the City’s obtaining ownership of the parcel.”
Final asbestos remediation is underway, and the company has started the equipment staging phase along the ten block of West Austin Street.
Beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 5, the ten block of West Austin Street and the westernmost lane of South Main Street adjacent to the Belford Building will be closed.
The section of West Austin Street and the west lane of South Main Street will remain closed for the project’s duration.
West Austin traffic will detour to West Kaufman or West Sherman Streets.
The demolition phase will require closing all lanes of the 200 and 300 blocks of South Main Street beginning Wednesday morning, December 6. Northbound truck traffic on South Church Street at East Hearne Avenue will continue north on South Church Street to East Kaufman Street.
Other South Main Street traffic will be detoured onto East Sherman Street, then north on South Church Street to East Kaufman Street.
Pedestrian traffic on South Main Street will utilize the sidewalk adjacent to the Gibraltar Hotel.
The demolition phase is expected to be completed on Thursday, December 7.
Due to the street closures during the demolition phase, on Wednesday and Thursday, December 6 and 7, the Paris Public Library will only be accessible from First Street SW.
Library patrons should follow www.facebook.com/ParisTXPublicLibrary for updates.
After the demolition, Nabors will begin the removal of debris and the remaining components of the contract, requiring continued closure of West Austin Street and the westernmost lane of the 200 block of South Main Street.
The timeline for the demolition is subject to change. Traffic control barricades, electronic message centers and other signage will be in place during the project. The public should use caution when in the area.
