KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In the 1920s, Pryor Brown Garage was considered a modern marvel. It's believed to be one of the oldest parking structures in the country.
In the 2020s, it will likely be torn down. City records show a demolition permit for the historic structure was approved April 27.
The nearly 100-year-old, long vacant structure has deteriorated in the heart of downtown for years, with sections of its roof collapsing.
The city said in a release Monday that the permit is good for a year. The owners "can proceed with the demolition at a time of their choosing once they have coordinated with the City on executing an approved traffic safety plan," a city notice states.
Demolition of the four-story structure may take about a week.
The garage is surrounded mostly by offices but there is a section of residential space to the immediate west.
Once demolition commences, the east-side lane on Market Street beside the garage and the south-side (eastbound) lane on Church Avenue will be closed, along with those sections of sidewalks, according to the city.
"Pryor Brown Garage is a compelling example of what happens when historic buildings are not maintained," Knox Heritage said in a statement. "Blatant lack of maintenance is a strategy some property owners will engage in that can potentially lead to the demolition of a building."
A 2013 project memo obtained by 10News suggested the "repair of the garage would not be feasible due to the cost."
A structural engineer told the owners on June 13 it was his opinion that they should consider demolishing the structure. He flagged numerous concerns with the structure back then.
"The roof is partially collapsed and is deteriorated, sagging and it has leaks in many areas," he wrote. "The entire concrete structure should be investigated for repair which would include removal of all loose concrete, cleaning of rebar, replacement of rebar if necessary, patching and coating."
One week later, on June 20, 2013, records show Royal Properties applied for a demolition permit, but the structure was never knocked down.
"When a building has suffered from neglect, owners will argue that the cost of repairing is prohibitive and thus creates an economic hardship," Knox Heritage wrote. "Thoughtful continuing maintenance is key to successful preservation. If continuing maintenance is not taken seriously, buildings can pose a danger to the public as well as, a loss of an important architectural asset."
After demolition, the owners of the property can't use the footprint of the existing garage for more surface parking. That's a limitation that the Knoxville City Council put in place while Madeline Rogero was mayor.