The City of Vicksburg was given permission from the Vicksburg Board of Architectural Review Tuesday to demolish a home at 812 Walnut St. that has been neglected for years

Benji Thomas, city inspector, said the home was first brought before the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen for code violations in July 2008, but its owners were granted a 180-day extension to make repairs. During a subsequent inspection in July 2009, improvements were not made, but a freeze had been placed on demolitions by the city under newly elected Mayor Paul Winfield. The freeze has since been lifted, and Thomas said an inspection in March showed even more violations, mostly due to a fire that has since damaged the home.

“We’ve sent out letters, we’ve advertised in the paper and we’ve gotten no response from the owners,” Thomas told the board. “It’s an unsafe structure.”

The board approved the demolition unanimously, with members Charlie Gholson, Thurman Nelson, Troy Weeks, Toni Lanford-Ferguson, Betty Bullard, Tom Pharr and Dorwin Shields in attendance. The cost of the demolition will be enrolled as a lien on the deed to the land and must be paid as part of any sale of the tract.

The board also OK’d minutes from its April 27 meeting before adjourning.