ARAB, AL (WAFF) -
The city of Arab is telling the owners of the town's oldest building in downtown to tear it down after nearly eight years of ownership and the lack of restoration on the dilapidated structure.
But now the owners are fighting back.
When the city gave the owners 10 days to appeal, they took them up on the offer Thursday by filing a notice of appeal in circuit court.
The big question now is how long will the case be tied up in the courts?
Drive through downtown Arab, and the building that garners the most attention is the town's oldest building. Once the Clothes Pen, some now see it as the pig pen.
"Well, I wouldn't want to say that, but it is an eyesore," said Kathy Ramsey, a downtown business owner.
When Matt Irmen and his wife purchased the building in 2004, it was their vision to restore it and put in a restaurant.
"Basically, for the last seven years we've been fighting with the city as far as getting a permit to work on this building," said Irmen.
What he said he needs is a building permit but said Arab only wants to give him another kind of permit.
"With demo permits but what can you do with a demo permit?" he asked.
Irmen said for the last year he's worked hard to tear off the roof and clean out the building, paving the way to begin the construction process and could finish the job in half a year if he had a building permit, but some nearby business owners say his track record doesn't support that.
"Oh that would be wonderful if he could have it up in six months, but, unfortunately, it's been like that for quite some time now," Ramsey said.
Mayor Gary Beam said they would be happy to issue a building permit but says Irmen has refused to present a plan to the council.
Meanwhile, the case is now in the courts.
"I can't build still. I'm basically on hold again - another six months to a year, wasted," said Irmen.
He will still continue doing preparation work on the building in hopes of getting a building permit.
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City of Arab wants to demolish the oldest building in town, viewing it as an eyesore.
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