Demolition begins on downtown Williamsburg buildings destroyed by fire

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (WKYT) - Demolition began this week on a downtown Williamsburg city block that was destroyed by fire in January.

Fire swept through almost an entire city block on January 20, destroying several businesses and apartment units. Firefighters worked to save what they could.

Officials said the buildings, which dated back to the early 1900s, could not be saved after several studies were conducted. A demolition was ordered, and that work began last night.

Mayor Roddy Harrison said the area is the oldest section of town.

“Basically the oldest section of town. And what it means to everybody. Everybody you talk to has a story,” Harrison said.

Timeline and next steps

Harrison said he hopes the demolition work will be completed in about two months. Crews will pause the work for Old Fashioned Trading Days and other fall events. Reopening Second Street is a priority.

After the material is hauled off, Harrison hopes the area can be rebuilt quickly.

“But we are going to talk to engineers, architects, to see if we can find somebody to maybe match it,” Harrison said.

Officials said they want to preserve the historic look of the area while inviting new business.

“You are going to have new buildings that we can market to get more retail downtown,” Harrison said.

Harrison is encouraging people to stay away from the area while work is taking place for safety and to ensure the project proceeds without delay.

The demolition work carries a price tag of $150,000.