Vicksburg workers demolished an old downtown garage today – an action North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield said was taken too quickly.

The garage is adjacent to a two-story, red-brick building at 923 Washington, perhaps best remembered as the Monte Carlo Lounge throughout the ’70s and early ’80s. It was built as the Christian and Brough Co. Auto Dealers in the late 1920s.

The garage, at 913 Washington, is said to be owned by Joe Farris, a Vicksburg native who has resided in California for many years, and who is the owner of the former Monte Carlo building.

For decades, it was a 7-Up bottling plant before becoming Johnson Barber Shop and a series of nightclubs and lounges until 1990.

Broken windows, gutted, debris-filled interiors and collapsing second levels barely supported by splintered wooden beams proved hazardous, said Mayor Laurence Leyens who termed the demolition justified.

The roof of the garage structure extended over the sidewalk on Washington Street. Some pieces of the building and roof had fallen off.

For years, Farris has said he has plans for the structures and has been at odds with City Hall. The former Monte Carlo was once mentioned as a home for a planned African-American Museum and Marketplace and Farris has had work done on the building periodically.

No demolition is being performed on the more stable Monte Carlo building, on the Jackson Street corner, or the white brick building operated as Bunny Rabbit Pool Hall at 909 Washington.

&#8220We tried to get the owner to do his thing,” Leyens said. &#8220But he has no interest in dealing with it, so we’re just cleaning it up and bringing it into enforcement.”

The structures are in Mayfield‘s ward.

&#8220My main concern is that you have not exhausted all avenues possible to bring the owners up to code,” he said. &#8220I think it behooves us as a city government to explore avenues to help property and homeowners keep their facilities and homes. I don’t agree with the mayor being hasty in doing this because he’s opening the city to more liability.”

The Bunny Rabbit Pool Hall was the subject of ownership litigation between Sylous Bradley and Jamaal Khouri.

According to Warren County Court records, Khouri agreed to buy the pool hall for $60,000 around January 2005, a contract was signed, and a closing date of Feb. 14, 2006, was set. However, the records show, Bradley did not show for closing.

In Warren County Judge Johnny Price’s judgment dated Sept. 7, 2006, he ordered Bradley to transfer the building’s title to Khouri and awarded him legal fees. Price also dismissed Bradley’s counterclaim against Khouri.

Bradley sought a new trial but that motion was denied Sept. 19. His attorney, Ricky Johnson, appealed that decision and the judgment against Bradley.

Leyens said he did not want to tear down the garage property until Price made his ruling.

&#8220I’ve been waiting on the building to the left, the Bunny Rabbit club, which has been in litigation between the owner and the other party,” he said. &#8220The other party had planned on tearing it down and we were just waiting for that litigation to get resolved.”