New Berlin building suffers more damage
NEW BERLIN – On Sunday, a 12’ x 8’ section of brick fell from the upper south wall of the building at the corner of Main and Genesee Streets in the village of New Berlin, dumping several hundred pounds of brick onto the sidewalk below. Fortunately the area had been cordoned off since the building was declared a hazard and tenants removed over a year ago.
On Wednesday, a crew from Burrell’s Excavation in Norwich was on site to further remove loose bricks and cover the facility so any further damage to the building or danger to vehicle pedestrian traffic would be mitigated. Assisted by DOT staff directing traffic, the Burrell’s crew used a cherry picker to knock additional loose material from the south and east face of the upper walls and covered the roof with a tarp. Village trustee and assistant mayor Robert Starr directed the operation for the village.
Village crews will remove the brick from the sidewalk and maintain the barricade to keep the area safe. Starr said the property owner, who has declared bankruptcy, has relinquished rights to the village and after consulting with the village attorney steps were taken today to take the necessary emergency action and prevent further damage or loss to the building. Starr said the village has applied for grants to assist in the resolution of the matter. At this time the viable options are to repair the facility and then try to sell it, or simply to tear it completely down. However, nothing will be done towards a permanent solution until the village receives word on funding.
Currently there’s approximately $30,000 due in back taxes on the building and the village interests in any repairs would have be limited to that plus any value it might get on the sale of the building and property, exclusive of grants received. Starr said both Assemblyman Cliff Crouch and Sen. Thomas Libous are attempting to assist in the matter. Although the building itself is not on the historical register, the area it is in is listed as a historical district, which further complicates the grant process now that the village has had to step in.
“The property owner could have just solved the problem easily (if he had had the resources) but now both the federal and state governments are involved since the village has had to step in,” Starr said. In addition to the immediate removal of the lose brick facing, Starr said additional work will be done on the roof on Monday to prevent further water damage that created much of the current problem.
– Brian Horey
On Wednesday, a crew from Burrell’s Excavation in Norwich was on site to further remove loose bricks and cover the facility so any further damage to the building or danger to vehicle pedestrian traffic would be mitigated. Assisted by DOT staff directing traffic, the Burrell’s crew used a cherry picker to knock additional loose material from the south and east face of the upper walls and covered the roof with a tarp. Village trustee and assistant mayor Robert Starr directed the operation for the village.
Village crews will remove the brick from the sidewalk and maintain the barricade to keep the area safe. Starr said the property owner, who has declared bankruptcy, has relinquished rights to the village and after consulting with the village attorney steps were taken today to take the necessary emergency action and prevent further damage or loss to the building. Starr said the village has applied for grants to assist in the resolution of the matter. At this time the viable options are to repair the facility and then try to sell it, or simply to tear it completely down. However, nothing will be done towards a permanent solution until the village receives word on funding.
Currently there’s approximately $30,000 due in back taxes on the building and the village interests in any repairs would have be limited to that plus any value it might get on the sale of the building and property, exclusive of grants received. Starr said both Assemblyman Cliff Crouch and Sen. Thomas Libous are attempting to assist in the matter. Although the building itself is not on the historical register, the area it is in is listed as a historical district, which further complicates the grant process now that the village has had to step in.
“The property owner could have just solved the problem easily (if he had had the resources) but now both the federal and state governments are involved since the village has had to step in,” Starr said. In addition to the immediate removal of the lose brick facing, Starr said additional work will be done on the roof on Monday to prevent further water damage that created much of the current problem.
– Brian Horey
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