All the talk about Memorial Hall and its future may have ultimately decided it.

The 120-year-old landmark and former city building continues to decay, seemingly collapsing in on itself more each day. Several groups and local government entities have tried to save the hall to no avail.

The Ironton City Council is again looking at the project but seems to be unclear as to where to go from here.

The problem is that the clock is ticking and every day that goes by its future looks more bleak.

It is clear that local governments don’t have the money to take on a project like restoring Memorial Hall and that doesn’t look to change in the near future.

The taxpayers certainly cannot afford to do so either.

The best solution would be for a nonprofit organization to rise to the challenge of restoring the hall, but that doesn’t look like it will happen.

So the council should move quickly on a demolition plan, but also consider options that would preserve the arch and even the tower, if feasible. The property would serve well as greenspace with parts of Memorial Hall incorporated into it.

It is disappointing that the structure likely cannot be saved but that is the reality brought on by time.