MORRISTOWN, Tenn. — A part of Main Street in Morristown is officially back open after the historic Parks-Belk Building was burned down.
Morristown leaders held a ribbon-cutting event on Friday to celebrate the road's reopening, after crews wrapped up demolition work on the building site. Damage to the Parks-Belk Building was too severe to repair, the city previously said. Instead, it had to be torn down due to safety concerns and developers said they plan to build a new building in its place that honors its history.
Friday's ceremony paid tribute to the city's fire department, the Public Works department, and first responders who initially responded to the blaze. It was also meant to honor the merchants and officials who worked to reopen the downtown area after the fire.
It was located near the intersection of Main Street and Cumberland Street, which pedestrians can now walk through and motorists can drive through.
The building was burned down in early January, and the man accused of starting the fire was arrested. Its owners said they plan to build apartments and storefronts in the space where the building is located, while also preserving some parts of its historic character.