City to move building at Main and Chestnut to demolition list
A building at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets in Washington that is targeted for demolition
Pieces of ceiling and other items can be seen all over the floor through one of the glass windows of this building at Main and Chestnut streets in Washington.
A building at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets in Washington that is targeted for demolition
Washington City council plans to move forward with demolishing a vacant building at the corner of North Main and West Chestnut streets.
The city put a fence around the structure, at 8-22 W. Chestnut St. and 93-95 N. Main St., in December, after the city police and fire chiefs expressed safety concerns with the structural integrity of the building.
Ron McIntyre, the city code enforcement officer, said the city has had a difficult time reaching the current owner of the building, which has been vacant for decades. He said Michael Albert Smith purchased the building in January 2017 for $1,200, but listed the site as his address and contact information.
“I’ve posted the property, I’ve cited him, but we’ve been unable to make contact,” McIntyre said.
The building has changed ownership many times and has millions of dollars of federal tax liens on it, according to McIntyre. He said in December that the roof of the structure was beginning to collapse. He said because of the building’s size, the demolition probably will cost “at least $150,000,” McIntyre said.
City council is expected to vote Thursday to complete title searches and to schedule a public hearing to put the property on the city’s demolition list.
“We still have to go through the process and have a public hearing to declare it a public nuisance,” McIntyre said.