A Shelby County Judge warns anybody who feels like breaking into the vacant 100 North Main tower that if arrested, they will be face a firm prosecution from the District Attorney. It’s just one thing Judge Larry Potter ordered, says Local 24’s Mike Matthews.
The fence surrounding the vacant skyscraper at 100 North Main is a Swiss Cheesy thing.
Anybody walking along will find openings, openings that lead to the inside of the vacant, trash stuffed building.
Environmental Court Judge Larry Potter says, “This is a difficult building to secure, frankly.” He’s right.
Judge Potter brought lawyers for the city, the property manager, and the owner together for an emergency court hearing. There was no fighting, he said.
They agreed to hire another security guard, to ask Memphis Police to increase patrols around the areas around the building, and to put Sky Cop cameras around the property. “But I will also say this,” Judge Potter said. “Money is an issue, alright? Here we go!! Money would solve almost every problem that comes through the back doors of this court.”
On Wednesday, firefighters lugging more than one hundred pounds of gear on their backs climbed 34 flights of steps to put the fire out, in a building that Judge Potter wants all sides to save.
“The court’s final hope is that this building will be preserved,” he said, “…so that the tallest structure in our county will be a viable building, providing a benefit, a financial benefit, for the entire community.”
The Judge says lawyers have been told to remove all hardware from the eight doors that lead to the building from the boarded up parking garage.
With a gap in a chain link fence so big anybody could walk through, and doors that have been broken down, getting into the parking garage is easy.
The ease of entry might tempt son trespassers, but Judge Potter says he’s already had a few words with the District Attorney’s office. “I want them to deal with any individuals found in that building illegally in a very firm manner,” he says. “There are young people apparently who think this type of thing is humorous,” Judge Potter said. “There is nothing humorous about this at all, Ladies and Gentlemen.
All sides will be back in Environmental Court on Thursday, March 30th, at 10:30 a.m.
