Compared to many US cities, Memphis has a pretty nice skyline and city structure. Overall, you can’t complain if you live there and most of the buildings are made with integrity and don’t look bad. However, residents recently got together and complained about one particular building in the Medial District which has become something of an eyesore. In fairness, we think they have a point.

Apparently, the building pictured below is owned by the UTHSC who have been toying with ideas of how to use the building for several years. One idea that has been thrown around is to use it as a hotel or conference center. Obviously, these ideas have yet to materialize, or even come close to starting.

As a result, it lies completely abandoned and left to decay, while also serving as a brutalist, concrete eyesore for the rest of the area. Speaking of decay, you can also make out parts of the structure beginning to rot, which can be seen at the top of the black part of the building. Obviously, this sort of stuff will happen when a building isn’t cared for.

According to one local though, this building wasn’t renovated or demolished due to a key reason. While this opinion is unfounded, they wrote, “There have been several issues with renovating the building and bringing up to current standards: mainly asbestos and seismic reinforcement.”

This may actually be the truth, as it would cost too much money to either knock it down with asbestos, or try to renovate it. Sadly, it looks like this building will be sitting here for a while to come. Undoubtedly, it could become a key part of the city. However, due to the bureaucracy surrounding these situations, it looks like this one will rumble on for the foreseeable future.