Demolition on Garonne Street in Agen halts due to a legal proceeding, leaving residents stranded and city officials frustrated.
Fire aftermath halts demolition
Three months after a fire destroyed several buildings in Agen, demolition and cleanup work on Garonne Street has barely begun but must now stop due to a legal proceeding initiated by a property owner. The fire occurred on July 29 and involved more than 100 firefighters.Court order allowed early demolition
In September, the city obtained a court decision to demolish the two buildings at numbers 14 and 16 on Garonne Street, which were at risk of collapsing. An agreement with the co-owners' insurers was reached to organize the demolition and cleanup, and the work began on October 14.Legal challenge delays progress
A legal proceeding was initiated by the owner of number 18 to investigate the cause of the fire. The mayor noted that a preliminary expert assessment had already been conducted in early September and expressed regret that the legal action was taken so late, which could have allowed the work to progress further.Residents face prolonged displacement
The mayor stated that the demolition work will now stop, affecting residents of number 12 on Garonne Street, who cannot return home until the unsafe buildings are removed. Despite this setback, the city remains committed to its right to demolish the two buildings.
