An old warehouse building located across the street from city hall is being torn down today (Wednesday)
Preston Construction of Woodbury is conducting the demolition.
The Smithville Aldermen recently voted to take advantage of a Neighborhood Stabilization Program through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency which provides funds to cities and counties wanting to demolish blighted properties.
Mayor Taft Hendrixson says the city owned building, located across the street from city hall on the north side, qualified for the program.”I was approached by the Upper Cumberland Development District. They had some THDA funds, which in turn is HUD money for blighted areas and blighted buildings. I was approached about our white building over here. I took the liberty to make sure it (building) wasn’t on an Historical site and it’s not. It (building) was probably erected sometime in the 1920’s. The only thing we used that for is (storing) a bunch of old stuff that probably needed to be thrown away anyway.”
Once the building is removed, the property may be used for any city purpose, but under terms of the program, the property cannot be sold or leased for private purposes for a period of time, otherwise the city would have to refund all or a portion of the funds used to demolish the building.
City officials say the site will be graveled.