A downtown Senatobia property previously considered a nuisance by the city due to several health and safety issues suddenly has new purpose.
Claudine Standard, who owns a building at 313 West Main Street next to The Magnolia Room, has donated the site to the Senatobia Main Street Chamber of Commerce. Standard inherited the property from her mother Virginia Lightsey in 2003, according to records from the Tate County Tax Assessor/Collector’s Office.
“The Standard family has agreed to sign the building over us to create an outdoor community area sometime in the near future,” said Jamie Sowell, Senatobia Main Street Director. “It will give visitors downtown additional outdoor seating and dining space. We are very grateful for this generous donation.”
Demolition and removal of the current building at the site, which formerly housed Lightsey’s Snack Bar and CJ’s Hot Wangs and Thangs, began Wednesday, Nov. 8.
The vacant building was flagged months ago by Senatobia code enforcement officials for numerous safety violations including a collapsing roof and a structurally deficient west wall it shares with The Magnolia Room next door.
