AUGUSTA — The city plans to have a trash-and-clothing-filled building at 44 State St. that has been deemed unsafe demolished as soon as possible.
City Manager William Bridgeo told city councilors Thursday the building is a health hazard, and the city already had foreclosed on it because of nonpayment of taxes, so he has told the city staff to proceed with the demolition of it promptly, probably in the next week or two.
“The primary reason we’re moving immediately is because of the health hazard,” Bridgeo said, adding that “organics” in the building could attract rats and cause other health concerns.
He said the organic material includes pet waste, leftover food, open food containers and other items that could draw pests to the home and create a bad smell.
“I’m deeming this an emergency situation,” Bridgeo said. “We don’t want to expose neighbors to the risk posed by the unsanitary conditions there. We have an obligation to the neighborhood to get this done as fast as we can.”
He said the condition of the building — including dry rot, mold, a collapsed ceiling and water damage to the structure and electrical system because of a leaking roof — make it unsalvageable.
Much of the house’s second floor is littered with clothing and what appears to be trash, including cat litter and used pots and pans.
Bridgeo said having the building demolished and disposed of is likely to cost the city about $50,000, which is about how much it would cost to have the structure professionally cleaned by a hazardous materials firm such as Clean Harbors.
“We’re going to skip the cleanup phase and go to demolition,” Bridgeo said.
The city will pay for the demolition costs from a fund established with money raised from the sale of other tax-foreclosure properties. The fund balance is about $100,000.
Bridgeo said the city is seeking price quotes from contractors, on an expedited basis, and will hire one to demolish and remove the structure.
The home’s three residents were ordered to leave Tuesday after city fire and code enforcement workers inspected the structure and deemed it unfit for occupancy.
Robert Overton, code enforcement officer, said the building had structural problems and water had infiltrated the electrical system, making it a fire hazard.
He said the home’s occupants told him Tuesday they had found an apartment to move to. The home’s previous owner died last month.
The occupants, all adults, who were ordered out Tuesday were the former owner’s daughter, the daughter’s husband and another man.
The previous owner’s daughter said she disagreed with the city’s assessment that the structure was unsafe, said no one had lived upstairs for about a year, and items had accumulated upstairs while she was busy taking care of her ill mother.
Bridgeo said the former residents will be allowed into the building under city supervision to retrieve whatever belongings they wish to take with them, but they will need to do so soon.
The city foreclosed on the building in January.
Keith Edwards — 621-5647
kedwards@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @kedwardskj
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