Curtis building damaged by windstorm

The structure at 10-16 N. Main St. in Mount Vernon, commonly known as the Curtis Building for being associated with the family of prominent 19th-century city leader Henry B. Curtis, experienced significant damage during the windstorm that blew through Mount Vernon on March 13.

A large section of the building’s façade was broken off, necessitating the closure of the sidewalk and street parking on the east side of East Main Street between East Chestnut Street and the Public Square.

“The façade is deteriorating, unstable and at risk of collapse, and the brick behind the façade, which is now exposed, is now also in danger of coming loose,” said Mount Vernon Public Works Director Tom Hinkle.

Out of concern that removing simply the façade of the building at 10-16 N. Main St. would exacerbate ongoing structural integrity issues with the entire building, the city will seek a condemnation order for 10-16 N. Main St., as well as the adjacent buildings at 18-20 N. Main St. and 6-8 E. Chestnut St., when the city’s Board of Property Maintenance Appeals meets on Tuesday, March 24, at 40 Public Square.

A condemnation order will allow the city to demolish all three buildings, which are structurally connected to each other and have connecting utilities as well. The city purchased the buildings in 2022. The age of the buildings is unknown, but the structure at 10-16 N. Main St. was erected by the family of Curtis, a prominent lawyer, banker, developer and civic leader in Mount Vernon in the 1800s.

There is currently one residential tenant in 10-16 N. Main St., and a business is located at 20 N. Main St. The city will work with the residential tenant and the business on getting them relocated. Scaffolding and netting will be erected around the crumbling façade to stabilize it, and the sidewalk and street parking on the east side of North Main in that block will remain closed.

“The Curtis family were prominent in Mount Vernon history. Their influence is everywhere in this city,” said Mayor Matthew Starr. “But preservation efforts should have been initiated on the Curtis Building several decades ago, and now that structure is past the point of no return. Public safety, of course, always has to be our priority.”