NATCHEZ — The walls aren’t falling yet, but they will be soon for three properties that have been approved for demolition.

The Natchez Board of Aldermen voted Aug. 11 to proceed with demolition of abandoned structures at 12 Irving Lane, 1024 Martin Luther King St. and Winston Hill, but the process has been halted temporarily.

Natchez Building Inspector Paul Dawes said two of the properties are owned by the state and must be released from the state before demolition can happen.

“I have sent letters requesting for the properties to be released, but I haven’t heard back from them yet,” Dawes said.

The state-owned properties are on Winston Hill and Irving Lane.

Demolition of the third property, located on Martin Luther King Street, was bid on by a local contractor, but the Dawes said the project was not correct.

“I told him he could get me another number or go with the bid he has already given us,” Dawes said.

The low bids accepted for the demolition and debris removal for the three structures total $5,600.

For now the project is in a holding pattern, but Dawes said he doesn’t expect that to last long.

“I’m just waiting for people to get back to me, but we will be moving forward in a quick manner then,” Dawes said. “The holding pattern will break lose shortly — within a matter of days.”