Once Eyed for New Taco Bell, Building Now Faces Demolition

A building on the site of a Detroit Avenue property — recently considered for a new restaurant — is slated for demolition. 

The 100-year-old structure at 16900 Detroit Avenue has a host of structural issues, including bowing walls that can be seen from the street, crumbling walls, bricks and windowsills.

The building’s owner, Chris Lamb, confirmed that demolition will be completed within three weeks, but said no development plans are in the works.

“I am hoping something comes along in the near future, but I don’t have anything lined up,” said Lamb, who bought the building in June 2011.

According to sources, the site was slated to be the new location of Taco Bell, but the deal fell through.

Lamb would neither confirm nor deny that he was working with Taco Bell officials to build a restaurant on the property.

Following to the , city council passed an ordinance that in city limits.

Dru Siley, the city director of planning and development, said if the Taco Bell project had moved forward, it would have been subject to the new drive-thru regulations.

“We heard from them that they were looking at the site,” he said. “But nothing was officially submitted or proposed to the city.”

The building’s previous owner presented plans to the city’s architectural board of review in 2010, including an extensive renovation that involved removing and rebuilding the second story.

But the renovation never came.

And in 2011, the building was cited for several violations of “deteriorating conditions.”

“That building has had issues for decades,” Siley said. “They’re to the point now, where it’s beyond repair. It could be a good redevelopment site — it’s on a great corner.”