More than a year after the Hall Theatre’s demolition, the future of the property at the corner of Eighth and West streets is uncertain, as more than $340,000 in debts, back taxes and judgements are levied against it.

The Hall Theatre burned down on March 1, 2022, and Richard Asbill, Cassville city administrator, said the city has about $125,000 sunk into the property for court-ordered demolition and environmental study costs, and officials are hoping to either find a way to obtain the property or work with another owner to help repurpose the empty corner of the square.

“We are often asked why we have not done anything with the Hall Theatre property,” Asbill said. “For one, the city does not own it. We had a court order to demolish the property after the fire, and there are other issues related to the property.

“We would and believe could have a productive plan for the property moving forward, but there are a number of liens and back taxes against it that take priority before us.”

The city had Barry County Abstract pull all the information on the property, owned by Jon Travis James, which included two deeds of trust, five years of back taxes and six Barry County Circuit Court judgements.

In order of priority, they include: 1. A deed of trust to Arvest Bank for a promissory note in the amount of $160,000.

2. A deed of trust to Jerry James for a promissory note of $27,974.99.

3. A Barry County Collector’s office notice of tax sale for unpaid property taxes and fees from 2020-2024, totaling $12,323.48.

4. Barry County Circuit Court judgement in favor of Lester E. Cox Medical Centers in Springfield for $2,133.87.

5. Barry County Circuit Court judgement in favor of American Express Bank for $14,168.63.

6. Barry County Circuit Court judgement in favor of Arvest Bank for $108,930, plus costs and attorney fees of $7,500 and 9% post-judgement interest.

7. Barry County Circuit Court judgement in favor of Michael Riehn, PC for $6,513.12, with interest and court costs of $155.93.

8. Barry County Circuit Court judgement of dissolution of marriage between James and [name redacted by request and due to no having no interest in the property].

9. Barry County Circuit Court judgement of eminent domain/condemnation in favor of the city of Cassville for $6,513.12, with interest and court costs of $155.93.

Also included in the list is a set of back taxes from 2015-2018, but James paid those amounts in 2018 and received a certificate of purchase.

“Because of the way the liens are prioritized, the city does not have a priority position,” Asbill said. “The property at this time is likely to go to the county tax sale.”

Arvest Bank, who is first in line and has two claims on the title, declined comment on the claims and the property’s future.

Jon Horner, Cassville mayor, and Richard Asbill, Cassville city administrator, said Arvest Bank has agreed to release their stakes in the property.

Skyler Bowman, Barry County collector, said the property was included in the 2022 and 2023 tax sales, with no bids offered. The city of Cassville paid the 2019 property tax debt in 2024 to initiate the three-year process of obtaining the property through the tax sale.

“The city truly understands the importance of the Hall Theatre property for the betterment of the square and the community,” Asbill said. “We’re providing input on opportunities, and we’re happy to help reach a beneficial outcome, but we need assistance for that path to become available.”