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Peru Board of Building Appeals approves demolition, grants short extensions and orders follow-up inspections
Summary
The Peru Board of Building Appeals on July 13 approved demolition of a long-vacant house at 191 East Riverside Drive, granted a 30-day extension for repairs at 636 West 3rd Street and agreed to extend work at 350 West 2nd Street until Aug. 1 while scheduling a follow-up meeting. Staff also flagged safety concerns at a vacant commercial building and railroad cars on nearby railroad property.
Peru — The Peru Board of Building Appeals on July 13 approved demolition of a long-vacant house, granted short repair extensions for two properties and directed staff to return with updates at a follow-up meeting.
Bruce, a staff member who inspected multiple properties, told the board the owner of 636 West 3rd Street had “put all new windows in and they’re cleaning up the inside” and had subsided and redone the rear addition roof, and recommended granting the owner another 30 days to continue work. The board approved the 30-day extension and requested a report at the next meeting.
The board also considered warehouses at 350 West 2nd Street, where Bruce said crews have been removing recycled material and that one area appears about “60% of the way down.” Attorneys and staff recommended extending compliance time to Aug. 1 to allow more progress; board members agreed to the extension and discussed holding a special meeting in early August for an on-site update.
On new business, Bruce told the board that 191 East Riverside Drive has been vacant for years and that attempts to contact the owner have failed. He said the property had been secured from entry but that neighborhood attempts to access or buy the house were unsuccessful. The board moved to notify interested parties, place the property on the demolition list and approved the demolition vote.
Bruce also raised safety concerns about a vacant commercial building at 335 East 5th (the former Bargain Barn), reporting collapsed fascia and interior failures and noting that an unlocked door allowed entry during his inspection. He recommended a 45-day correction order and said the board may have to approve emergency abatement costs if the owner does not respond.
Separately, a member raised the condition of two railroad cars on railroad property in Peru that had been slated for relocation. Bruce said a deal with another town would have those cars refurbished and one returned to Peru; board members expressed concern about children playing underneath the cars and agreed to ask the street department to spray weeds and consider barricades until relocation occurs.
The meeting agenda items produced several formal actions (minutes approval, the 30-day extension for 636 West 3rd, the extension to Aug. 1 for 350 West 2nd and the demolition authorization for 191 East Riverside Drive). The board adjourned after scheduling follow-up inspections and a special meeting to review progress.
“I would recommend giving him some more time,” Bruce said about 636 West 3rd Street, and the board adopted that recommendation. The board approved the demolition motion for 191 East Riverside Drive after determining the property is a longstanding nuisance and contact attempts had failed.
Next steps: staff will report back at the board’s next meeting and the board signaled intent to hold a special meeting in early August to review progress at 350 West 2nd Street and other active enforcement items.
