Springfield continues to battle dilapidated buildings

Springfield’s push against unsafe and dilapidated buildings is making slow progress, with work expected to be completed by late fall.
http://rutlandherald.com/article/20131016/NEWS02/710169957

Published October 16, 2013 in the Rutland Herald Springfield continues to battle dilapidated buildings By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — Springfield’s push against unsafe and dilapidated buildings is making slow progress, with work expected to be completed by late fall. “Everything hasn’t happened that was supposed to happen,” said Town Manager Robert Forguites. “Some work has happened, and some have asked for extensions to Nov. 1 or Dec. 1,” he said. Forguites gave the Select Board an update on the town’s ongoing effort to crack down on some of the most dilapidated buildings in town. Most are residences, and one is even owned by the town thanks to a tax sale. Forguites told the board that three of the buildings have either been demolished, will be demolished or have been partially demolished. One of the buildings, located at 81 Union St., is believed to be in the worst condition and will be demolished once its asbestos siding is removed, Forguites said. Excavators were on the job Monday at 52 Valley St., taking down a dilapidated wooden garage, next to the old brick house, Forguites said. Two excavators were on the site, along with a large Dumpster, leaving little room to maneuver, said Selectwoman Stephanie Gibson Thompson. Forguites said three people who own the original dozen properties have not responded to the town’s demand for attention to their buildings. One of these is an apartment house at 42-44 Union St. which was the home of Terrick Craft, whose arrest in the summer of 2012 after a shooting in downtown Springfield prompted in part the push against unsafe and blighted buildings. The building is now vacant, according to Selectman David Yesman, who also lives on Union Street. The town has had a long-standing unsafe building ordinance, which involves calling in a structural engineer to do an assessment of suspected buildings. Property owners are given the option of appealing the town’s findings. Forguites said the property owners of 52 Mount Vernon St. have done a lot of work on their house, tearing down the unsafe section, cleaning up trash, and leveling and seeding the area. But he said the town has had no response from the owner of a building at 9 Furnace St., and the manager said it was possible the landowner may have died. In another case involving a house on Clinton Street, the town attorney is working with the daughter of the elderly owner, Forguites said. They have promised work will be completed by Dec. 1, he said. The town is also on the list of troubled properties and Selectman Michael Knoras questioned Forguites about the town-owned house at 21 Cottage St. “I’m sure you are close to that,” Knoras said. Forguites admitted he had to pay attention to the problems, including repairs to the building’s porch and some brickwork. The town will probably take the porch down, he said. “Are we going to miss the deadline?” Knoras said. Forguites did not respond yes or no, but said he would have crew members from the Public Works Department work on the house.