By Katie Holland

Staff Writer

Preparing to get a wrecking ball out if necessary, the Roseboro Board of Commissioners has decided that if owners of two properties in the town’s limits don’t move quickly to bring their condemned buildings up to code, legal steps will be taken that could mean demolition on those sites.

The properties in question, the old First Citizens Bank building, on Roseboro Street, and the “Washington building,” located on West Street, were brought up as Mayor Roland Hall prepared an update on both properties.

In regards to the old First Citizens Bank building, the mayor notified the board that the owner, Ransom Newkirk, had come by to see him that morning in order to explain his plans for the facility.

“He is ready to put in the work,” said Hall, noting that Newkirk has even requested to put a refuse container next to the old bank.

As for the “Washington building,” Hall explained that he has been in contact with the owner, Christine Washington, and the only work that has been completed has been the boarding up of windows in order to keep the pigeons out.

Teresa Powell, who works near the Washington building, raised her hand as Hall finished his updates, saying that she had a problem with the pigeons coming in the building.

“I need this taken care of now,” said Powell, who noted that the birds destroyed some remodeling she has done to her business.

She added that while Washington continues to board up the windows, the pigeons continue to find a way to nest in the empty facility.

“This is not a new problem for me,” said Powell.

Commissioner Arnold Sandy said he didn’t think there had been enough work done on the First Citizens building either, despite recent attempts to get work started.

Hall answered Sandy saying that Newkirk’s problem has been funding of repairs, but he was confident that this problem has been dealt with now.

“Well, we still need to address this and set a date. We need to push forward with this,” said Sandy.

As soon as Sandy finished, another resident, Terry Melvin, said she felt that the buildings should be preserved, if possible.

“I assure you that we have worked with the owners,” Hall said.

Town attorney Bill Poole then remarked that the board had already set two deadlines for the owners to repair the buildings, both to no avail.

Poole then asked, “Would you like the board to examine the cost of demolishing the buildings?”

Sandy, who initiated the idea of speeding up the renovations, said that if the old First Citizens Bank building, a corner building, were destroyed, “it would be an eyesore.” So, he concluded that maybe looking into the costs of both should be considered.

He then asked that the town clerk look into the costs of tearing down or renovating both buildings. It was approved unanimously.

Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by e-mail at silife@myclintonnc.com.