She understands the owners are talking to commercial real estate firms about marketing the half-million square feet of space. Clarke-Streett says the owners have not received any tax abatement for the three years the building has stood empty. Lawsuits are in the deposition phase among owners, managers, tenants and insurance companies. This means no one will probably move back into the building before late next year. Small says the work meets EPA standards for schools, which is a tighter standard than for office buildings.
Plans are to take the interior down to steel and concrete.
Harry F. Themal has been writing for The News Journal since 1959.