With the roof falling in and a wall propped up with 2x4s, the former Cheepo Depot on South High School Avenue is an eyesore, aldermen say.
They are giving the owner until Jan. 15 to make repairs she has promised before moving ahead with the process of tearing it down.
Elizabeth Berry of Magee met Tuesday with the mayor and aldermen and new Building Inspector Bo Williams.
Alderman-At-Large Edward Hough said it’s one of many dilapidated buildings in the city with absentee owners. He said people in Columbia have to look at them every day, but it’s out of mind to their owners.
“It’s not been out of my mind. I had been hoping nobody was seeing it,” Berry replied.
She said she’ll have it and an apartment complex behind it paid off in August and would then like to have them in sellable condition.
She said she plans to make repairs to the former Cheepo Depot to turn it into a warehouse. Williams said that would be less costly than tearing it down.
Berry said work began about a month ago but was delayed because of a worker’s health problem. She said they were supposed to come back the first of February but promised to have it done sooner after urging from city officials.
Alderman Wendell Hammond said he was worried about a wall falling on a child or someone who was intoxicated, and Berry said she plans to tear down the part that is propped up with 2x4s and put a wooden fence around it.
Hough said plans to fix the property date back to two administrations ago when the city agreed to let someone move in with a camper to make repairs. However, he said the work was never done.
Berry said she became in charge after she and her ex-husband split up and could not give an explanation for what had happened in the past.
“You got the wrong end of the deal if you got that building,” Hough said. “We need to see some positive change down there sometime soon.”
In other property actions, the board scheduled a demolition hearing for two vacant, old homes at 1327 and 1335 Hammond Ave. The owner lives in Georgia.
The board scheduled a hearing about 616 Foreman St. to get a timeframe from the owner, Jessie Hibley, on the demolition and salvaging of materials. Williams reported the demolition is ongoing but moving slowly.
The board scheduled hearings for cleanups at 1006 Beatrice St., 1114 Mobley St. and 105 Judy St.
Hammond said he would call owner Craig Robbins about cleaning the remaining tires from 202 S. High School Ave.
The following properties have been cleaned: 515 S. High School Ave., 1115 Mobley St., 1216 Bell St., 411 Bay Ave. and 217 George Drive.
Also Tuesday, the aldermen voted 4-1 to give an exemption to City Bar and Grill to allow up to 200 people inside without having a sprinkler system pending receipt of a signed agreement between owner Landy Slocum and an adjoining property owner allowing for the bar to use the neighboring parking lot. Alderwoman Anna Evans cast the lone vote against it.
