The city has condemned a smokestack on D.A. Biglane Street, the only remnant of a box factory which was one of the first industries in Natchez to employ black workers.

Steel barricades and red &uot;danger&uot; tape rope off the smokestack, which is located at the edge of the Isle of Capri parking lot. The casino leases the land for the parking lot from Mike Oil Co., said City Engineer David Gardner.

&uot;(The smokestack has) deteriorated to a point where it’s not safe,&uot; Gardner said. &uot;It’s a danger to human life.&uot;

Gardner said some bricks have fallen from the top of the smokestack. The city condemned the structure last week.

Neither Isle of Capri Casinos nor oil company officials could be reached for comment Wednesday.

City Planner David Preziosi said the smokestack is significant historically because it was part of the box factory, located on the bluff above Natchez Under-the-Hill. The factory was one of the first in Natchez to employ black workers.

Gardner said there are two options for the smokestack: tearing it down or trying to restore it.

&uot;(Isle of Capri) was worried about it, so they asked us to look at it,&uot; Gardner said. &uot;The ball’s now in their court to do something about it.&uot;

With either route, plans must be submitted to the Natchez Preservation Commission for approval because the smokestack is located in a historic district.