The city of Syracuse has issued an emergency demolition order to tear down the St. Anthony Convent and Motherhouse on Court Street.

"The motherhouse is attached to two different buildings ... in two weeks, you are gonna see it down. It is going to take a little bit," said Michael Collins, the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development commissioner.

The city also announced that it is not paying for the demolition of the building.

"The owner promised to maintain the structure,” said Deputy Code Enforcement Officer Jake Dishaw. "We have seen zero effort from them over the years.”

City officials said arson is a possible cause of Friday night’s fire that destroyed the abandoned building in Syracuse. City code enforcement officials say the structure as it stands now presents an imminent danger and a hazard to public health, safety and welfare.

Crews could structurally save the parts of the building that made up the convent. 

Before the fire, plans to convert the property into affordable senior housing were recently announced by developers. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.