Local News in Brief : Building’s Demolition OKd
The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency cleared the way Monday for final demolition of the historic Jergins Trust Building, despite protests from local preservationists.
The agency’s board turned down a request for a new engineering study to determine whether the structure, one of three commercial buildings in downtown Long Beach built before 1920, is sturdy enough to withstand rehabilitation.
A city staff report recommended that demolition be allowed to proceed because “the prospects for a feasible rehabilitation project are marginal, at best.”
Board Chairman Donald Westerland said that although “no one questions the architectural gem that it is,” the baroque-style building could not be fully restored because most of its interior has already been torn out.
The owners, Glenborough Corp. and Perini Land and Development Corp., have voluntarily held up final demolition work for eight months while the rehabilitation issue has been debated.
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