Demolition has begun at the former Fink & Skopp building in Downtown Fresno. Photo by Estela Anahi Jaramillo

Long-sought demolition activity has commenced on the former Fink & Skopp Building in Downtown Fresno, about 15 months after the building’s owner was initially denied a permit to tear it down.

Crews were knocking down the north wall Thursday of the former furniture shop designed by Fresno architect Robert W. Stevens and built in 1962.

Located at 925-935 Van Ness Avenue, the building with the distinctive red brick arches has been empty since 2008.

Property owner Lance Kashian & Co. sought to demolition the building, with a representative appearing before the Fresno Historic Preservation Commission in October 2022 to make the case, saying the building is a danger to the public.

Commissioners denied the permit request, saying the building could be part of a future “thematic district” celebrating the architect, whose Mid-century Modern buildings can still be seen across town.

In April 2023, the Fresno City Council voted to deny a resolution in favor of designating the property to the Local Register of Historic Resources, with Councilmember Miguel Arias saying the vote paves the way for a new building to be built there.

City of Fresno Spokesperson Sontaya Rose confirmed the April 2023 council action paved the way for demolition of single-story building, which was built in the footprint of the 1912 Sequoia Hotel.

A message left for Lance Kashian & Co. was not returned Thursday afternoon.

Neighbor Dirk Poeschel, who operates his land development office next door to the former Fink & Skopp building, wrote a letter to the Historic Preservation Commission in 2022 relating problems with vagrancy in the structure.

“Over the past 10 plus years the building has been an incredible eyesore with refuse and remains of human perversity,” Poeschel wrote.

A report from Fresno’s Homeless Assistance Response Team from October 2023 details an incident where 2-3 people were camping in front of the building, having broken through the metal security gate. They set up a structure inside the fence, camping out and using open flames.

It’s not clear what Lance Kashian & Co. plans to do with the building and a nearby vacant lot, but Poeschel said the firm’s rehabilitation of the Rowell Building across the street for the District Attorney’s office is an example of a “tasteful, quality redevelopment effort.”