Judge Bell orders Williams property razed

A dilapidated building on a major southwest Cairo thoroughfare, which has been in poor repair for decades, will finally be razed by order of Cairo Municipal Court Judge Joshua C. Bell.
Last Wednesday, Bell once again took up the city’s case against Chiquita Williams, owner of the nuisance at 1100 M.L. King Jr. Ave. S.W.
This case has been in municipal court for a year and a half, but last week Judge Bell ordered Ms. Williams to purchase a demolition permit by Jan. 1, 2013, or the city could move in and demolish the structure.
A permit costs $50, according to Addleton, and is good for 90 days, so Ms. Williams can have the structure demolished within the 90 days or the city will do it at the end of 90 days and bill her for the work. If the bill is not paid, the city can levy against her property.
“I think we finally got a resolution. We can now move on with other nuisances around the city,” Addleton said.
During the last several years, the owner has razed a portion of the structure and has erected a privacy fence, but has said she has plans to utilize a portion of the structure as a banquet or social hall, even a museum.
Ms. Williams, through her attorney, Melvin Horne, indicated she is attempting to obtain financing to do something with the property but, apparently, she has been unsuccessful.
According to Addleton, Attorney Horne admitted in court last week that the structure is a nuisance and should be razed.