Pause continues in demolition of Regency House

TEXARKANA, Ark. — Demolition of the former Regency House building on East Broad Street downtown continues to be suspended after an accident damaged the building next door.

The project is on pause pending results of an investigation by the demolition contractor’s insurance provider. When work will resume and how long the project will take to complete are uncertain, city Public Works Director Tyler Richards said.

“It’s in limbo,” said Dan Butler, a partner in the company that owns the vacant building damaged in the accident, at 114 E. Broad St. next door to the Regency House.

During demolition work in July, a portion of the Regency House building’s brick wall fell onto that building, damaging a significant portion of it and raising the possibility that it may need to be demolished, as well.

Last August, the Regency House’s extensively-damaged roof collapsed through the remains of the floor beneath, destabilizing the structure and creating the possibility of falling debris. The

city immediately blocked access to the street and sidewalk in front of the building and closed the park next door.

The cost of demolishing the building has been estimated at $500,000. The building’s owners have all but abandoned it, leaving the city to pay the bill. In March, Mayor Allen Brown indicated that the city may be considering litigation to recoup the cost.

The former Regency House property’s history dates to 1878, when it was first deeded to a local Masonic lodge, according to previous Gazette reports. A general store operated on the site until the building burned down in 1885. Operators of a dry goods store, Texarkana National Bank and again the Freemasons in turn owned a new brick building at the address.

From 1945 to 1978, a department store started by William Dillard, later founder of the Dillard’s chain, operated in the building. The building was vacant from 1979 to 1988, when it became home to Regency House, a retailer of china, crockery and glassware. It was vacated again in 2002.

Staff ile photos by Sara Vaughn ■ The Regency House building demolition made good progress June 22 in downtown Texarkana. The contractor has 125 days to complete the majority of the project, but there will be more small repairs needed for completion by other contractors after the demolition is complete. Everything is expected to be finished by the end of the year, according to city officials.