Crews must stabilize the block of the downtown property that saw a buildings collapse last month before further demolition plans can be considered, the Mayor and Aldermen voted in a volatile meeting Tuesday.

The unanimous vote upheld the decision of the Architectural Review Board, which rejected an application last week by the owners of the property, Preston and Mary Reuther, to demolish the abandoned buildings still standing at 707 and 709 Clay.

Meanwhile, crews began work next door this morning to clear debris to make way for demolishing what remains of the old Thomas Furniture building at 711 and 713 Clay, which collapsed during cleaning on Jan. 25. Twenty-three workers inside the 140-year-old building, then slated to house an antique shopping mall and farmer’s market, escaped the fall without injury.

Through contractor Freddie Parson, the Reuthers submitted a plan earlier Tuesday at a hearing with city inspector Victor Gray-Lewis to stabilize and then bring down the buildings at 707 and 709 Clay &#8220brick by brick,” on scaffolding, rather than by crane or wrecking ball, to prevent damage to other buildings nearby. The demolition of those structures was recommended in a report presented to the Architectural Review Board by engineer John Madison, hired by the Reuthers, and Gray-Lewis, who said in a Feb. 10 letter requesting further plans from the Reuthers that &#8220the structure at 709 Clay Street and 707 Clay Street that remains standing appears to be in such a precarious state that continued collapse may be imminent.”

A report submitted by Mary Reuther from architect Skippy Tuminello estimated that renovating and bringing 707 and 709 Clay up to modern codes could cost $2.75 million.

&#8220That is financially impossible to us,” said Mary Reuther, who cited from the report a $100,000 estimate to demolish the structures. &#8220There’s no guarantee those buildings won’t collapse during efforts to renovate.”

Mayor Laurence Leyens, however, said the buildings should be saved if possible. Aldermen Sid Beauman and Michael Mayfield agreed, voting that demolition plans are premature.

&#8220If the buildings need to come down, the buildings need to come down, but I haven’t heard anything that says those buildings have to come down,” Leyens said during the meeting, comparing the Clay Street buildings to projects to save other aging downtown structures. &#8220We need to be responsible for long-term thinking, not what’s cheaper today…Once they’re gone, they’re gone.”

The board’s decision does allow the Reuthers to submit another application for demolition, or for rebuilding, once the structures are stabilized, and also authorized Parsons to begin work on the first six points of his ten-point plan for clearing the property: