Fire officials routinely began an arson probe today but suspect the Saturday blaze was started by vagrants cooking a meal in the dilapidated, long-vacant, 100,000-sf property. The city owns the property after buying a 1.6-acre tract for $770,000 in 1994.

The land was part of a long-delayed redevelopment plan for the poor, one-square-mile Parramore district nearby. Bryan Hotel is at 330 W. Church St., not far from the first-phase $53 million, mixed-use venture Charlotte-based Bank of America is developing on West Church Street between Division and Terry Avenues.

Under construction is a seven-story, 254-unit apartment house and Hughes Supply Inc.'s new headquarters building, a five-story, 200,000-sf, $25 million building expected to be completed in September. Also planned is a 1,000-acre parking garage and 25,000 sf of ground-floor retail in the apartment building.