Tear It Down or Restore It? East Texas Town Debates Downtown Building

(Tyler, Texas) One building near downtown Tyler, Texas, is sparking a debate on what its future should be. In a perfect world, Tyler residents wish that residential and commercial structures would be occupied, well-maintained, and reflect pride of ownership.

However, that is not the case with this building. As the city ages and certain parts of Tyler experience growth and new development, other areas face declining occupancy and deteriorating buildings.

The Building Sparking Debate

One of those buildings sits on the corner of S Broadway Avenue and Front Street. The stucco two-story building has been sitting vacant for many years, and someone posed the question on social media:

"City of Tyler; Can we please do something with this eye sore of a building leading into downtown? It’s been vacant for years and either needs a complete remodel or demolished."

As soon as the post went live, comments started flooding in within a matter of hours. There were over 200 responses with lots of suggestions on what should be done to or happen to the building.

Tyler Residents Share Their Ideas

Among the comments and suggestions were:

• It has gorgeous architecture
• It would make for a fantastic rooftop bar
• It is an eyesore entering downtown
• Convert it into affordable housing
• Turn it into a homeless shelter
• Demolish it and put in a gas station and convenience store
• That baby will hold lots of coffee shops
• Spirit Halloween should inquire about occupying it for a few months

As I was reading through the comments, though, I noticed one thing: local pressure washing companies are eager to clean it up, removing years of dirt and grime to give it a somewhat newer appearance.

READ MORE --> Remember The Old Ethan Allen Building In Tyler That Sat Empty For Years?

What Would You Do With It?

According to some comments, the building is owned by a former Tyler doctor and is currently listed for sale. If you had the bankroll, would you restore it, repurpose it, or tear it down? Let me know by leaving a comment on our social media page.

There is always hope for commercial buildings that have sat empty for a number of years. Look what happened to the old Ethan Allen furniture building that sat empty for more than 25 years along Loop 323 in Tyler, it was restored and turned into a flooring store. So there could be hope for this structure.