How we wish, a year after the oldest portion of the Majestic Hotel burned spectacularly to the ground, that we could use the analogy of how the site had risen from the ashes, like the mythical phoenix, to be a source of pride for the entire community.
That is simply not the case. One year after the fire, the rubble of the burned-out hotel remains an eyesore for the community, and a reminder of the fragility of downtown's historic structures.
We also wish we could point out how this heartbreaking event, which forever erased an integral part of downtown's history, had galvanized the community into action with unprecedented unity and a burning desire to move forward.
Again, that is not the case. In many ways, the fire polarized the community into distinctly different camps. On the one side are those who want to move forward with economic development at a blistering pace, while the other side begs to slow down the process and not place an undue burden on property owners.
We do not understand how the process could be any slower. Snails are outpacing the rate of economic progress downtown when compared to other thriving areas of the state, such as Bentonville, Little Rock, El Dorado and Conway.
While there has certainly been some meaningful dialogue over the past year, all it takes is a brief drive up Park Avenue and a glance to the north to realize how far we have to go.
"We," as in the community as a whole.
An Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality-approved removal plan sets a March 5 date for owner Park Residences Development LLC to have the site clear. Forgive us if we voice pessimism that will come to pass.
Today, on the one year anniversary of one of the worst fires in downtown Hot Springs in the modern era, we call upon the Hot Springs Board of Directors to proceed, without hesitation, with a condemnation resolution against the "red brick building" and Lanai Towers portions of the complex at its second board meeting in March.
The resolution has been tabled three times, and will not come up again until the second board meeting in March. The board is out of excuses, in our opinion, for tabling the matter again.
Park Residences Development LLC's manager, Garrison Hassenflu, said the complex was unsafe as part of his no contest plea to 10 violations of the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code in December, an admission city officials have said is key to establishing the danger posed by the structure. He paid fines totaling $500 as part of the negotiated plea. More than 20 additional fire code violation charges leveled against him were withdrawn.
What is your excuse, city board? Are you afraid of insulting Mr. Hassenflu, which has left tourists to our fair city over the past year with the impression we don't care? That a pile of rubble next to other buildings that have become an eyesore is a great tourist attraction?
We have two words for our civic and community leaders on this one-year anniversary: move forward. Do what ever is necessary to see that the rubble is gone as soon as possible -- ideally, before Memorial Day, when the summer tourism season begins in earnest -- and see that the former Majestic site is a source of pride for this community. And while you're at it, ensure that history does not repeat itself through reasonable code enforcement and economic development measures.
Together, we can ensure a brighter future not only for downtown Hot Springs, but Hot Springs and Garland County as a whole. And that will be an anniversary we can all take pride in.
Editorial on 02/27/2015