A 60-year-old Fairbanks residential high-rise, the Polaris Building, has been declared dangerous and unfit for human occupancy. The city has sent a letter to the owner of the 11-story building to begin repairs by March or start tearing it down.

City officials produced a long list of problems which they say have rendered the building unfit. It has been vacant for 10 years, with no utilities; water lines, including the fire suppression system, have frozen and leaked on every floor; ice, water, mold, moss and dead pigeons are present throughout the building. Repairing the building is no longer economically feasible and it should be destroyed, city officials say.

In 2011, the local endowment for the arts hung a sign on the building which reads "Looking For Love Again." The sign was an attempt to draw attention to the building's condition and encourage efforts to save the building.

Owner and Anchorage-based developer Marc Marlow can still appeal the city order, according to local media. Last year, the city estimated demolition would cost US$3.4 million. If Mr. Marlow does not demolish or renovate the building, the city may seek state funding or borrow money to help demolish it, the Fairbanks Daily News Miner reported.