The overall demolition process isn’t totally finished at the former Hornets Pointe apartment complex, but it could be completed by the end of this week.
City of Emporia Communications Manager Christine Johnson says the demolition contractor has flat concrete and the building’s foundation to remove. Once that process is done, contract workers will bring fill dirt to the location, level it out and reseed the lot.
Work to demolish the building followed City Commission approval in early July after fire left all the exterior walls standing but essentially destroyed everything inside back in mid-December. It also followed what can best be described as a slow process working with the building owner’s insurance company. Johnson says the insurance proceedings are currently between the owner and company. City Manager Trey Cocking has said the building owner is expected to pay all demolition-related costs to the city. If that doesn’t happen, the process moves to a tax lien on the property, followed by a tax foreclosure in an effort to sell the space.
Meanwhile, the investigation continues into the cause, which was listed as arson shortly after the fire. No suspect information has been released. If you have information, call Emporia Fire at 620-343-4230, Emporia Police at 620-343-4200 or Lyon County Crime Stoppers at 620-342-2273. Lyon County Crime Stoppers still has a reward of up to $1,000 leading to the arrest and convictions of those allegedly involved.
