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Committee briefed on two fire-damaged properties proposed for demolition; members request photos and ownership details
Summary
City staff said two fire-damaged buildings at 271 Elm St. and 354 Ohio St. have not been rehabilitated since fires and that the administration will ask the council to authorize demolition; councilors asked for photos, cost and tax/ownership information before agreeing to proceed.
A city staff member told the Business and Economic Development Committee on Jan. 6 that the administration will request City Council authorization to demolish two fire-damaged properties: 271 Elm Street, which sustained significant fire damage last summer, and 354 Ohio Street, which the staff member said was condemned and suffered a second fire last spring.
"There's 2 buildings that we're gonna be requesting the council to allow for demolition. The first is located at 271 Elm Street, and it sustained significant damage on fire last summer," the staff member said, later noting the second property at 354 Ohio Street had been condemned and experienced a subsequent fire.
Committee members pressed for additional information before forwarding a demolition request to the full council. Councilor Trumbull said he was "not comfortable just with an address and narrative without any pictures of the property or any more information" and asked staff to provide photographs and more detail. Councilor Montserrat asked who pays for demolition, what happens to properties after demolition and whether outstanding back taxes apply; the staff member said they would provide more details.
A councilor asked whether the properties met the legal standard for demolition; the staff member responded that demolition would be "allowed under your code," but committee members said they needed clearer documentation of condition, cost and ownership history before recommending demolition to the full council.
Staff agreed to collect additional material — including photos, demolition cost estimates, ownership and tax status — and return with that information. No demolition authorization or vote took place at the Jan. 6 committee meeting.
