MOUNT VERNON — The structure at 10-16 N. Main St. in Mount Vernon, commonly known as the Curtis Building, experienced significant damage during the windstorm that blew through Mount Vernon on March 13.
The wind broke off a large section of the building’s facade, necessitating the closure of the sidewalk and street parking on the east side of North Main Street between East Chestnut Street and Public Square.
“The facade is deteriorating, unstable and at risk of collapse, and the brick behind the facade, which is now exposed, is now also in danger of coming loose,” City Public Works Director Tom Hinkle said.
Out of concern that simply removing the facade would exacerbate ongoing structural integrity issues with the entire building, the city will seek a condemnation order for the building when the city’s Board of Property Maintenance Appeals meets on Tuesday at 40 Public Square.
It will also seek a condemnation order for the adjacent buildings at 18-20 N. Main St. and 6-8 E. Chestnut St.
A condemnation order will allow the city to demolish all three buildings, which are structurally connected and share utilities.
Dilapidated building conditions
The city purchased the buildings in 2022. The age of the buildings is unknown, but the Henry B. Curtis family erected the structure at 10-16 N. Main St.
Curtis was a prominent lawyer, banker, developer and civic leader in Mount Vernon in the 1800s.
There is currently one residential tenant in 10-16 N. Main St., and a business is located at 20 N. Main St.
The city will work with the residential tenant and the business to relocate them. Scaffolding and netting will be erected around the crumbling facade to stabilize it. The sidewalk and street parking on the east side of North Main in that block will remain closed.
“The Curtis family was prominent in Mount Vernon history. Their influence is everywhere in this city,” said Mayor Matthew Starr. “But preservation efforts should have been initiated on the Curtis Building several decades ago, and now that structure is past the point of no return. Public safety, of course, always has to be our priority.”
