A small group of people turned out in frigid temperatures Friday night for several events held to commemorate the anniversary of the fire that destroyed the "yellow brick building" of the Majestic Hotel complex, leaving behind a pile of rubble along Park Avenue.
The oldest Majestic Hotel building caught fire around 5:30 p.m. Feb. 27, 2014, and burned throughout the night. The remains of the building were torn down on Feb. 28 and March 1 in the interest of public safety.
A cleanup plan for the site that was submitted to, and approved by, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality calls for removal of all the debris to be completed by March 5.
Brenda Brandenburg, organizer of a luminary event held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Majestic Hotel site, said several events were held as part of the anniversary remembrance.
She said city officials, along with the Hot Springs Fire Department and Hot Springs Police Department, were made aware of the ceremony.
"This is something that was orchestrated legally," she said Friday.
"We had an informal meeting at the Park Island Cafe around 7 p.m. during the luminary. A poet who often performs at Maxine's on open mic night read a poem around 7:15, and we expect several dignitaries to be there," Brandenburg said.
Earlier Friday, District 1 Director Suzanne Davidson, whose district encompasses the Majestic Hotel property, said she would try to be present, but was chairing a grant committee in Little Rock, and had a doctor's appointment later in the afternoon.
"We wanted to put a positive spin on the fact that we have endured this (rubble pile) for a year now. It was a very devastating event for the city, and all of us wanted to reflect on what has happened over the last year, and the changes that have occurred downtown," Brandenburg said.
In addition, the event was to show support for Fire Chief Ed Davis and the efforts he is making to enforce the existing building codes in the Thermal Basin Fire District, which covers most of the downtown structures.
"I think one thing that we see as very important is life-safety issues. I know a lot of property owners don't want to dig into their pockets to make the changes (required by the TBFD). I know they are expensive and I can appreciate that. I'm not a business owner or building owner downtown, but I am a lover of downtown. I frequent downtown a lot, I eat downtown, shop down there. I think this is a calling-out to those property owners to come forward and do what a responsible property owner should do, and that is save those buildings as well as protect the firefighters," Brandenburg said.
"I'm a preservationist. I love the history. I know there are people out there who say if it's not your money, you can't tell property owners what to do and that is true in some respects. There are codes set to keep order and to make sure we all do what we're supposed to do as good stewards," she said.
Brandenburg said a number of people have "stepped up to the plate," such as Joseph Sheridan, owner of the Park Island Cafe, who allowed the use of his space and an open mic for portions of the anniversary celebration, "because he has looked at that rubble for a year now."
Central Park Fusion owner Matt Fuller has been recognizing the anniversary of the fire all week by volunteering to give 10 percent of his profit for the week to the Hot Springs Fire Department, Brandenburg said.
Others who have worked to support the anniversary events include Bill Solleder, Todd Miller and Jim Miller, with Low Key Arts, Tracey Prather, of Texarkana, who helped organize the event, and Michael Schwartz, who has videoed the insides of a number of vacant buildings in Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Davidson said she appreciates the anniversary event putting forth a positive perspective.
"I can't help but agree the fire was a catalyst. I felt Hot Springs was at a tipping point, and personally, I think the activities are gaining momentum.
"Every day I drive down Central Avenue and see something new, or another truck with a load of Sheetrock, or plywood or something, and I'm excited about what is going on downtown. It is unfortunate that it took such an event to do that. I know some people complain, but the city is doing all it can and it's a slow process. When you get governmental entities involved, it can be a little slow so we need to have patience that we can come to a somewhat positive conclusion," she said.
Local on 02/28/2015