February 6, 2014 - A report released today by structural engineering firm National Resource Management concluded that the remaining McClung Warehouse building on Jackson Avenue is at risk of a "cascading structural failure."

Mayor Madeline Rogero told City Council members Tuesday night that the remaining McClung building will need to be demolished for public safety reasons. Knoxville's Community Development Corp. is in the process of hiring a demolition company to perform the work.

"We purchased the McClung Warehouses last November with the intention of redeveloping the site, which is prime real estate, highly visible from Interstate 40," Mayor Rogero said.

"It is heartbreaking to have to proceed with redevelopment without these historic structures, but public safety concerns are forcing the City to go that route. We will be bringing these properties back onto the tax rolls with a high-quality redevelopment project."

Alvin Nance, KCDC's executive director/CEO, and Bob Whetsel, the City's director of redevelopment, will answer any media questions at 5 p.m. today at the McClung Warehouses fire scene on Jackson Avenue.

NRM's report states that roof beams appear close to collapse and adds: "If a cascading structural failure were to occur, it could destabilize the walls and possibly cause a complete building collapse."

Mayor Rogero reiterated the City's commitment to redeveloping all of the properties it owns on Jackson Avenue. The City is hopeful that a developer or developers may be able to assume ownership of the properties from the City by the end of the year, following a public input process and the issuance of a Request for Proposals.

The City acquired the properties in November 2013 in a settlement with a bankruptcy trustee. Three buildings on the block burned in a 2007 fire, and a fourth building was lost in a blaze last Saturday. The remaining building that is about to be demolished suffered heavy damage in Saturday's fire.