The building approved for the first mixed-use development in downtown Pascagoula will now face a wrecking ball.

The City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to give Darien and Trachell Hill seven days to repair their 100-year-old building at 709 Delmas Ave. or the city would proceed with demolition.

The building had been vacant before Hurricane Katrina.

Attorney Jimmy Heidelberg, whose law firm is adjacent to the Hill's building, complained Tuesday that his office has leaks and other damage from the two-story building, which is gutted with exposed beams and concrete visible on the ground level. The top floor is boarded up.

"I think it's an embarrassment to the city," said Heidelberg, adding that his office spent $1 million in repairs after Katrina.

Councilman Robert Stallworth said he has seen leaks in other nearby offices.

The Hills obtained permits last year and planned to convert the 1,400-square-foot first floor into commercial space and the 1,200 square feet upstairs into a living area. Trachelle Hill also said at that time that they wanted to build a 360-square-foot garden and deck area.

City officials were excited about the proposal and lauded the couple for their plans. But on Tuesday, they wanted updated site and construction plans.

Trachelle Hill said the initial grant funding they received was paid in small increments and could not pay for the entire project. She also sited other financial burdens.

The property is for sale and liens have been placed against the building, she added.

"I don't know what I can do with the property," said Hill, adding that she proposed to Building Official Steve Mitchell boarding up the building or placing a facade on the outside, both of which were denied.

"If you built anything there you would have to start at ground zero because there's nothing there," Councilman George Wolverton said.

"It's in the heart of the city, ma'am. It's been two years," Stallworth told Hill.

Mitchell said fire hazards and other major code matters would have to be addressed to fix the problem.

"My words to (the Hills) were, Bring it up to code or demolish it,'" Mitchell said.

Mayor Matthew Avara said the council did not want to appear inconsiderate of the Hills' plight, adding that the decision to demolish the building was hard.

When asked by Hill, Avara said that he would not vote for the city to buy the property. Other councilmen agreed.