City estimates 100 N. Main cleanup would top $1 million

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Will it cost $89,000 or $1.3 million to clean up the debris-ridden interior of the city’s tallest building and biggest vacancy?

The city’s anti-blight case against 100 North Main’s owner will continue Friday as Environmental Court focuses on cost estimates and a timetable for a cleanup to fix fire code violations.

Assistant City Prosecutor Kenya Hooks said the city estimates it would cost $1.3 million to bring in an outside contractor. Debris in the building has been described as a fire hazard and an obstacle to firefighters.

The owner’s representative, former code administrator Terry Hughes, on Wednesday gave an $89,000 estimate but said the would-be contractor hadn’t thoroughly examined the building.

Anti-blight lawyers have asked Environmental Court to direct city government to step in, clean it up and make the owner pick up the tab.

Hooks told Judge Larry Potter the owner hasn’t made progress in at least six months.

But the owner, IMH Memphis LLC, has asserted it can get the cleanup done quicker than the city. IMH has been granted delays based on its lawyer’s statements that the owner is working to secure $60 million to $70 million in financing for a planned renovation.

The building has been empty of office tenants since mid-2014 and cordoned off by fencing since early this year.

BRANDON DILL/SPECIAL TO THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL The 38-floor 100 North Main building in Downtown Memphis has been empty of tenants since 2014 and is described as a fire hazard. Estimated cleanup costs range from $89,000 to $1.3 million.