Athens council continues public hearing on unsafe structure at 1402 U.S. Highway 72 East

At its regular meeting, the Athens City Council continued a public hearing for 30 days on a proposed resolution that would find the structure at 1402 U.S. Highway 72 East unsafe and a public nuisance and order abatement.

City staff told the council the property owner’s representative has provided two options: a local contractor’s quote to demolish the building and a quote to repair the roof, with the repair estimate running about three times the cost of removal. Staff also said the owner has a “letter of intent” from a national company that would occupy the site if the building is removed. "They have asked for a 30 day extension so that they can solidify a contract with a national brand," a staff member identified in the record as Eric said. The council set the continuation for the March 24 meeting.

Why it matters: Council members split between giving the owner time to finalize a plan and moving more quickly to condemnation. Supporters of the 30-day continuation said the legal process…