Carlton Building’s garage faces structural review in Tyler
Falling debris from Carlton’s garage halts part of the downtown redevelopment in Tyler as NORF awaits structural assessment.
TYLER, Texas — Safety concerns surrounding the Carlton Building’s parking garage have prompted a structural assessment and placed parts of a major downtown redevelopment project under review.
NORF Companies, the New Orleans-based developer behind the restoration of multiple historic buildings in Tyler, confirmed that debris fell from the fifth floor of the Carlton’s parking garage late last week. The incident led to the closure of a section of Elm Street and raised new questions about the integrity of the structure.
Despite the setback, NORF said it still plans to move forward with the redevelopment of the Carlton Building, which it purchased in 2021. However, the timeline remains uncertain as the company awaits a full engineering assessment.
“In April 2024, there was a lightning strike that caused significant damage to the parking structure,” said Isle Stough, NORF’s Director of Development. “Over the past year, the damage worsened. Most recently, a wall on the fifth floor began to crack, and several bricks fell. We were notified on Friday and immediately began efforts to bring in a structural engineer.”
Stough said the engineer will assess the entire parking garage before any demolition or further redevelopment can proceed. Because the Carlton is a historically designated building, the process also requires coordination with contractors and approval from the National Park Service.
The company had originally hoped to preserve the garage as part of the overall restoration. But given the structure’s current state and the potential hazard it poses, demolition is now a serious possibility.
“At this time, there are still several unknowns,” Stough said. “We’re waiting to hear back from the engineer, as well as demolition companies and the National Park Service. We’re trying to move as quickly as possible, but I don’t yet know how long the process will take.”
In the meantime, city officials have closed off part of Elm Street to protect the public. Both the city and NORF said public safety remains their top priority.
The Carlton project was intended to follow the redevelopment of two other nearby historic properties the Lindsey and Fair buildings—also owned by NORF. Rising construction costs, inflation, and higher interest rates have further complicated progress across all three sites.
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