PORTSMOUTH
Downtown business owners continued to raise questions Friday about whether the city should have acted as fast as it did in tearing down a store damaged in a church fire last week.
In response, city officials gathered to defend Portsmouth's demolition of Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery, saying the building sustained too much damage after an adjacent burning building collapsed onto it.
"There have been some questions of expediency," City Manager Ken Chandler said. "But we have a responsibility for public safety. That's really been the basis of our decision."
The store and the apartment above it were damaged when a fire broke out early Dec. 20 in the sanctuary of Zion Baptist Church.
The blaze destroyed the church and spread to the congregation's adjacent three-story Visions Community Center. That building, at the corner of High and Green streets, collapsed onto Skipjack, crashing through the roof.
On Friday evening, Skipjack owner Joe Elder stood outside the pile of debris that once was his livelihood and said he was frustrated that the city hired a demolition crew that started work hours after the fire was extinguished.
Portsmouth is paying Dunn Demolition $93,000 to remove the remains of the three buildings, but Elder said much of the artwork and antiques on the first floor of his shop could have been saved if the demolition had been delayed.
"There were some really bad decisions made," he said. "And there's some stuff they have to answer for."
A few items have been saved from the shop and the Elders' upstairs residence. On the second floor of the only remaining corner, a valuable work table stands alone. The teak name board of a ship hangs on the wall.
Today, the Olde Towne Business Association's board will hold an emergency meeting to discuss the fire, chairman Ed Forlines said, adding that he was sure some want to address the speed of the demolition. "Anyone who witnessed what happened would be concerned about process."
City officials have worked out a plan for the contractor to remove some of the rubble today and lay it out in an empty lot nearby so the Elders can sift through it, Chandler said.
Elder said he hopes he can save some of the store's brass objects and the ship figureheads but said many of the most valuable oil paintings and antiques pieces of furniture had been destroyed.
"Our expectations are fairly low," he said. "But we'd certainly like the opportunity to get what we can out before it's loaded on a truck and carried away.
"I've entrusted my faith in the city to help us. There's a lot of things buried underneath there."
Meghan Hoyer, (757) 446-2293, meghan.hoyer@pilotonline.com
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OTBA works hard for the entire city
Given that critical comments were made about OTBA is seems reasonable to point a few things out, given that many EMPATHIZE with the small business community in Olde Towne. Many of the members of OTBA volunteer in many different capacities, such as the Education committees of the Portsmouth Partnership, the Lefcoe Alumni Assoc, and the Chamber of Commerce---these folks led the effort that resulted in increased teacher pay and retention that has greatly improved the Portsmouth Public schools; some have and continue to work on Public Safety through participation in the Police Chief's Forum, the Crime Line board and crime prevention work, other folks serve on chartiable boards, civic leagues in leadership positions, and the list goes on and on. You should be thankful for the businesses, they generate tax revenue that fund the schools and public safety while helping defray the amount homeowners are charged. So they actually try to help in many ways, and all resident benfit.
I agree
hjriver placed the nail in the correct location. If a concern for toxics actually exsisted then the city should have closed dowtown. I have yet to see any other PPE other then hardhats. Not a single dust mask. I am a retired fire fighter and was often amazed by what will survie a fire and water used. The city should have held back and went into a recovery mode.
Inept city officials
Just another example of how inept, unqualified and stupid a lot of our city and government officials are now. Most don't have the education, IQ or ability to hold a normal job so they manage somehow to get a government job. We the people are the losers.
OTBA Wants it Both Ways
And if the city had dragged its way through the cleanup process, OTBA would be whining about how the Manager's lack of response was hurting the appearance and amount of business along their precious High Street. Anyone who saw that corner after the fire would agree this is an issue of public safety. Though I emphasize with the Elders, I applaud the city for such a swift response. Perhaps OTBA should spend time devoted to an emergency meeting to address pressing citywide issues, such as homicide rate or non-accredited schools.