Owner Of Fire-Damaged Muskogee Building Given Deadline

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) -- The owner of a historic Muskogee building that was heavily damaged by fire has two weeks to shore up the building.<br/><br/>The city nuisance board is giving Judy McKie the time

Tuesday, January 9th 2007, 12:41 pm

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) -- The owner of a historic Muskogee building that was heavily damaged by fire has two weeks to shore up the building.

The city nuisance board is giving Judy McKie the time to secure the Severs Block Building in downtown Muskogee and re-open the street or face demolition of the structure.

McKie says estimates of putting up a safety fence, putting in a new roof and getting the building ready for leasing is just over $702,000. She says she and her husband have the finances to have the work done.

The building opened in 1890 and was home to the first bank in Indian Territory and housed the Muskogee Cotton Exchange.

It was heavily damaged by fire in early December. Investigators have said the fire appears suspicious.