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Friend of Pulse nightclub owner says building will come down

ORLANDO, Fla. — A friend of the owner of Pulse nightclub, where 49 people were killed and dozens other injured in a mass shooting, told Channel 9’s Greg Warmoth that the building will never reopen.

On Monday, the owner, Barbara Poma, backed out of a plan to sell the property to the city of Orlando for $2.25 million.

Questions about the future of the property remain, but Terry DeCarlo, a confidant of Poma’s and owner of The Center, said the building will come down and something will go in its place.

WATCH: Mayor discusses Pulse deal falling through

“What it’s going to look like, we don’t know yet,” DeCarlo said.

Poma’s spokesperson insisted that Poma has not decided whether the building will come down and wants to leave that decision to the community.

DeCarlo said he understands the roller coaster of emotions first hand.

“I’m very proud of her. Barbara was in my office Friday before she made the announcement Monday and we had a very long chat. She poured her heart out,” said DeCarlo.

The price the city was offering Poma was well above the appraised value.

Raw: Owner of Pulse discusses decision to not sell club

“I said, ‘You opened this for a reason and you know that if you can’t do it, then don’t,’” DeCarlo said. “She went that morning and she made her decision. And I immediately texted her and said, ‘I am proud of you. You followed your heart.’”

An advisory committee will soon be formed consisting of Pulse survivors, victims’ families and the Central Florida community.

DeCarlo said Poma is at peace with her decision.

“She just felt like there was a weight lifted off of her, knowing that she is going to be able to keep it and be able to create what she wants to create,” DeCarlo said.

There will also be input from other memorial designers, including the 9/11 Memorial.

DeCarlo said one idea being passed around it to have statues of people dancing, since that’s what the victims were doing the night they died.