The city’s unsafe building hearing authority affirmed an order to demolish what remains of the former American Lawnmower factory.

Owner Art Hicks Jr. complained to the authority that his side of the story has been ignored. But when The Star Press tried to video record his story to the authority, he objected and slapped a reporter’s camera, briefly interrupting the meeting in city hall’s auditorium.
A retired business agent for the Teamsters union, Hicks portrayed himself to the authority as a crime victim.

His building was torched in March 2001 by two youths whom the prosecutor’s office declined to charge, Hicks said, adding the building has since been repeatedly targeted by thieves and vandals. He has paid over and over to secure the building, he said.

City Building Commissioner Jerry Friend has issued orders to demolish three former American Lawnmower properties — the east, southwest and southeast buildings — at 705 E. 18th St.

Hicks said he would appeal the order.

The buildings are not currently secure, nor are they viable, Friend said. “They’re unsafe,” he told Hicks.

The property was the subject of a city court order in 2003.