Local businesses on West Union Street are still in ruins after a fire destroyed their buildings in November.
It only took a few hours Nov. 16 for fire to completely destroy several businesses and apartments along West Union Street. The buildings’ occupants knew it would take longer than those few hours to undo the damage caused by the flames — but perhaps not this long.
It has been more than nine months since the fire, and parts of the street still look like a movie set straight off a Hollywood backlot — nothing but brick facades. Construction on the interior of The Union Bar & Grill began recently, but several of the other buildings have yet to have the debris cleared.
“I never thought it would take this long,” Art Oestrike, owner of Jackie O’s Brewery, said. His BrewPub, 22 W. Union St., was spared, but his kitchen beneath The Union was destroyed.
“I don’t know when things will be back to normal,” he said. “I wish it was yesterday. I wish it was six months ago.”
Although Oestrike wasn't completely sure of an opening date for a full kitchen, he said they "would like to be fully operational by January."
Confusion about the delay was echoed by other business owners who had formerly called the stretch of West Union home.
Tasha Neal, co-owner of Jack Neal Floral — which moved to 80 E. State St. — said she was unsure if the store will return to its old location.
“I honestly don’t know at this point. Our lease (for the East State Street location) is up at the end of the year, but every time I drive on West Union nothing seems to have changed,” she said.
John Paszke, director of Athens City Code Enforcement, said there are delays because it isn't easy to rebuild old structures, nor is it cheap.
“The buildings share walls, so they all have to be rebuilt at the same time,” Paszke said. “Everything has to come together in unity and with multiple property owners, that isn’t easy.”
To help offset construction costs, Athens City Council members designated the buildings as "historic" back in March.
“It enables them to qualify for tax abatement programs, and there are programs at the state level for rebuilding and revitalizing historic buildings,” Councilwoman Chris Fahl, D-4th Ward, said.
Fahl helped spearhead the legislation that gave the strip of buildings a historic designation.
“That (tax abatement approval) is in the hands of the state government, and it takes time to get these abatements and grants approved,” she said.
Significant work on the buildings will not begin until the state rules on the grants and abatements, so Paszke said it will be some time before West Union is restored. Even clearing debris is complicated by the fact that the building facades must be preserved to qualify for historic designation.
“I’m hoping at least the debris will be cleared real soon,” Paszke said. “I’m trying to keep the pressure on them to get it done.”
Not all property owners will pursue tax abatements. Garry Hunter, part of the Carrie Larch Trust, which owns a couple of the damaged properties, said the trust did not qualify for abatements. Because of this, the trust has no reason to save the facade of its property on 12 W. Union St. The building that formerly housed Jack Neal Floral will be completely torn down.
"I really figured this would happen in the end," Neal said, when asked about the demolition. "Rebuilding is probably the best thing for business, but it does stink. You get used to seeing it as it was and you kind of hate the change."
Hunter said the trust cannot begin construction until neighbor properties applying for abatements receive a ruling from the state.
"The architects, the financial arrangements, that is all in place," Hunter said, adding that he expects an abatement ruling for his neighbor soon.
"If demolition is on schedule, we will begin in two to three weeks, and construction would begin in November," he said.
Hunter said the property would be finished for the 2016-17 academic year "at the earliest."
The delay in construction means the actual street will not be opening any time soon, Fahl said.
She said the city might repave the road, but that would not happen until construction on the buildings was finished, as the heavy equipment will likely damage the street.
Paszke said when construction begins, West Union might be reduced to one lane.
The fence around the damaged property has limited parking and sidewalk traffic, much to the frustration of operating West Union businesses such as Jackie O’s.
“I hate that ... fence,” Oestrike said. “It’s definitely impacted our traffic. It’s nice to have that other facility down the road (Jackie O’s Taproom) in times like these.”
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