On Wednesday, the Duluth Economic Development Authority retroactively approved $54,500 in emergency spending to board up the building, repair damaged fencing, remove graffiti and install better lighting, as well as security cameras.
"This is really just to keep the building safe and keep the public safe and secure," said DEDA Director Chris Fleege.
Fleege told DEDA members that authorities on one recent site visit discovered evidence that someone had attempted to light a mattress on fire.
The buildings, located at the corner of First Street and Second Avenue East, have been struck by repeated fires since the first major blaze forced them to be condemned for human habitation in 2010. The latest fire occurred in November of last year.
"We really were concerned that we were going to end up with another fire or someone endangered by trying to gain entrance to that building, because it really isn't safe anymore," Fleege said.
DEDA, which owns the buildings, had sought to tear them down, but those efforts have been stymied by a group of preservationists called Respect Starts Here, led by the previous property owner, Eric Ringsred. The dispute as to what should become of the historic but damaged structures remains tied up in the courts.
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An initial request from city administration for DEDA authority to spend up to $69,500 on the buildings was reduced by $15,000 Wednesday night, with the understanding that if additional funds are needed, Fleege will report back to commissioners.
DEDA Commissioner and at large City Councilor Derek Medved, said: "It's a lot of money, and I think it will show the public and everyone who is keeping a close eye on this that every penny matters."
Fleege said he had no objection to the reduced allocation proposed by Medved.
DEDA Commissioner and 3rd District Councilor Roz Randorf, voiced her approval of Medved's approach, saying: "It feels like we're trying to manage a declining asset.
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"Every time we spend public monies on this, it is cringe-worthy," she said.
DEDA Commissioner and at large City Councilor Zack Filipovich described the mounting cost of managing the blighted property as "a never-ending saga."
Despite DEDA's good-faith efforts to find a capable developer with the wherewithal to renovate the property, Filipovich said it has fallen into such disrepair that no feasible plan could be identified.
"It's kind of a sad story with this building, because it is, in certain aspects, and certainly was a very beautiful structure and a very beautiful building with a rich history," he said.
DEDA and the Duluth City Council approved up to $135,000 in funding to make court-ordered repairs to the building in November. But Fleege said none of that previous funding has been tapped, as the matter remains embroiled in ongoing and unsettled litigation.
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