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Resident presses city on Park Tavern demolition and unpaid dumpsters at city gateway
Summary
A resident urged the committee to address the Park Tavern site’s appearance and unpaid demolition debris; staff said the building suffered long-term water damage, the owner demolished most of the structure and unpaid dumpsters remain on site; the city may liquidate the demolition bond to clear debris.
During the public-comment portion of the Building & Building Codes Committee meeting on May 19, resident Rich Harrell asked what is happening with the Park Tavern site, saying the property "looks bad" and recounting the history of a prior owner who sought to renovate.
Mayor Paul Marnecheck said he recalled the prior owner, Allison Grelo, and explained that required upgrades to meet current occupancy and accessibility codes made renovation cost-prohibitive. The mayor said those code obligations—including bringing kitchens and bathrooms up to current ADA and health standards—were statutory requirements, not a local decision to block renovations, and he offered to meet with the prior owner if Harrell can provide contact information.
Tom Jordan, Community Development Director, said the Park Tavern was sold to the owners Harrell described. Jordan said the building suffered a water break that flooded the basement, caused extensive mold and mildew, and led the buyer and prior owner to conclude the structure was not salvageable. The new owner obtained a demolition permit and removed most of the building but underestimated the amount of material stored on site; unpaid dumpsters remain and the dumpster company has refused removal until payment is made.
Jordan said the city is considering liquidating the demolition bond set at the time of demolition and using those funds to remove the remaining debris. He noted the site’s current condition is unattractive, particularly because it sits at one of the city’s entrances.
What’s next: Jordan said the city may use the demolition bond to complete cleanup if the owner does not resolve outstanding payments; the mayor reiterated willingness to engage with the prior owner if provided contact information.
Quotes: Harrell: "What’s going on with the Park Tavern site? Right now, it looks bad." Jordan: "We can liquidate the bond that was set up at the time of demolition and perform the work ourselves by paying for the removal of the remaining debris."
