Apr 9, 2013 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – Carmichaels Borough Councilman Chris Watson took some heat at Tuesday’s council meeting for the condition of a building he owns on East George Street that was called not only an eyesore but also unsafe.

The matter was first broached by Paul Lesako, who asked what Watson intended to do with the building that has been left to deteriorate for years.

The building is unsightly and dangerous, Lesako said: “Something has to be done before somebody gets hurt.”

The building appears to be half demolished. It has no roof and only three exterior block walls are standing. Lesako said the building should be leveled and the materials hauled away.

Greene County Redevelopment Authority has been working with the borough to address blighted properties and had contacted Watson about the building, borough secretary Brandi Streit said.

Watson said a person from the authority told him the authority would tear the building down, but he had said he would rather rebuild it. The authority official said it would cost $5,000 to $10,000 to demolish the building. Watson said he told him “just give me $5,000, and I’ll do something” with it.

Watson said he has been working on the building. He later said he has already ordered block to rebuild the walls with the idea of making it into a garage, but having a job has left him a limited amount of time to do the work.

He said the condition of the building became worse when someone tore the front of the building down several months ago.

Council President Charles Walker confirmed Watson has been working on the building and said he even helped him out one day.

But Mayor Michael Dohanich said he is “appalled” by the condition of the building.

“It is an eyesore and an embarrassment to this community,” said Dohanich.

Dohanich said the building has been in poor condition for years and nothing has been done. He asked Watson for a timeline for when he will have the building taken care of and threatened to have borough police cite him for every week the property remains in disrepair.

Watson said he hoped to have something done with the building by late May or June. Dohanich said that was “not acceptable” and he expected something done within weeks.

Watson was cited for the condition of the building about six weeks ago by borough police Chief Mike Gyurke, who said Tuesday the hearing on the citation is scheduled for April 17 before District Judge Lee Watson.

Walker said the borough had received a letter from Flenniken Memorial Library about the condition of the building last month, but the letter wasn’t discussed at last month’s meeting because Watson had begun working on it.

He also said the borough has been trying to address the problem but can’t just walk on Watson’s property and do the work itself.

“I’m sorry it’s taking more time than it should take, but we’re trying to do it and trying to do it legally,” he said.

Walker said the borough also has been working with its solicitor to update borough ordinances to address such problems.

“But it’s all going to take time, it’s not an overnight fix,” he said.

Watson agreed to post signs warning people to stay off the property because of the potential hazard.