Council to consider demolition after building inspection finds imminent failure in historic‑district garage

Westchester Borough Council agreed to bring a contested demolition request back for vote after the borough’s building director described the accessory garage at 20 West Chestnut as structurally unsound and in imminent failure.

HARB had initially recommended denial of the owner’s request to demolish the garage, noting the historic‑district significance of accessory structures and expressing concern about demolition by neglect. The owner’s representative told council the structure had become unsafe, that people were sheltering inside and that repair costs were prohibitive.

Aaron Fluke, the borough’s director of building, housing and code enforcement, inspected the garage and summarized structural failures: a rotted capsill, racked framing with an out‑of‑plumb center post, water penetration through the roof, and areas of cement deterioration he said allowed probing six inches under the foundation. "My professional opinion is that this is in a state of imminent failure," Fluke said, and he recommended demolition on safety grounds.

Councilmembers noted HARB lacked the building‑safety inspection when it made its recommendation and supported fast‑tracking the item so the council can act on the certificate of appropriateness for demolition. The solicitor recommended placing the action on the next meeting agenda with discussion and a vote so the applicant could receive final disposition.

Next steps: the demolition certificate will be placed on the next council agenda for action; staff said a demolition permit and procedure could be issued quickly if the council approves removal.