Josh Richardson | Daily Times
Tony Lockhart Sr. uses a track hoe to demolish the building at the corner of 12th and Offnere streets in Portsmouth on Wednesday. His son, Tony Lockhart Jr., right, hoses down the rubble to avoid sparks. The Lockharts work for JNH Construction, which is tearing the building down for potential new development of that property.
By FRANK LEWIS
PDT Staff Writer
Employees of JNH Construction were busy Wednesday bringing down the former doctor’s office building at the corner of 12th and Offnere streets.
The City Engineering Department said the owner, Neal Hatcher, had obtained the permits necessary to bring the structure down, including permits from the City Health Department. Hatcher said he hopes to attract a business for that area.
“There are no definite plans for the property, just to have it available for a building site for someone,” Hatcher said. “I just want to have the whole block available for someone.”
Hatcher owns the block, which begins at 11th and Offnere at the Hurt Candy Company and goes to the building being torn down at 1127 Offnere St. That office had been occupied by Dr. Ramon Malaya.
“I think it would make a real nice area because it has traffic going both ways,” Hatcher said. “It would be nice for some kind of retail business that needs a lot of traffic. We would build it and lease it to someone the way they want it.”
Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com.
Post a Comment
