VIDEO | Roof collapses at downtown Regency building

The roof of the former Regency House building, at 110 E. Broad St., collapsed Aug. 14, 2019. Portions of the abandoned building's roof fell in about 15 years ago.
The roof of the former Regency House building, at 110 E. Broad St., collapsed Aug. 14, 2019. Portions of the abandoned building's roof fell in about 15 years ago.

TEXARKANA, Ark. - Firefighters and city officials responded to a roof collapse at the four-story Regency House building, located at the 100 block of East Broad Street, early Wednesday afternoon.

The building has been condemned for a while after a portion of the roof fell in. More of the roof fell in Wednesday afternoon, said Texarkana, Ark., Battalion Chief William Smith.

No one was injured.

"A portion of the roof had already fallen but the building was stable. Now it is not stable," said Texarkana Arkansas, Public Works Director Tyler Richards.

Officials taped off the parking areas and a section of Broad Street in front of the building for the public's safety, Richards said.

"This has been the most significant damage to this building yet. We have to get with the property owners and get with the state and see what we can do to get it (to) come down," Richards said."Nobody should go past the tape for their own safety."

Texarkana, Arkansas, City Manager Dr. Kenny Haskin said the Regency House was condemned in 2011. He said the property owner, Guta Lands LLC, appear to have gone out of business and attempts to hold the property owner accountable have been made to no avail.

"I will begin with contacting the state to determine how to demolish the building under emergency conditions," Haskin said.

Texarkana, Texas, Fire Department also responded to the incident because of the mutual aid agreement between the two cities.

Texarkana resident Sandra Arthur was on her way to the Landmark Building across the street when she heard "the awfulest racket" and she turned around and saw bricks falling and dust coming up from the Regency Building.

"It looked like smoke coming out, but it was all the dust," she said.

Nearby and about the same time on Wednesday afternoon, a gas leak occurred as work continued at the Hotel Grim building.

A Texarkana Water Utilities crew struck the gas line and the smell has permeated most of the downtown area.

The roof collapse at Regency House and the gas leak at Hotel Grim are unrelated events, according to officials.

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