Goodrich-It’s no London Bridge, but one way or another, the Family Party Store will soon be falling down.
A public hearing at 7:30 on March 12 settled the fate of the burned remains of a building at 8186 M-15 once and for all, with the council voting to give owner Chris Valente until April 2 to return the lot to it’s previous condition and meet current codes.
When the demolition is completed and cleared, and the lot re-seeded, ‘it should look like a yard,? said council president Ed York.
The store has been closed since a fire on Dec.14, 2003. Little repair work has been done to the building since that time.
In November of last year, village attorney Thomas McKenny gave council instruction on the necessary steps to address the situation and the council unanimously voted to adopt the Michigan Housing Law. Village building inspector Matt Place was designated as local enforcer of that law.
Place conducted an inspection of the building reported his findings during a hearing on Jan. 31 overseen by hearing officer John Ernst of Wade Trim.engineering.
According to a summary of revelent information provided by Ernst, the foundation, sidewalk, concrete slab floor, interior wall surfaces, flooe and ceiling coverings, heating system, plumbing system, electrical system and roof system are not salvagable.
Addtionally, the property was said to littered with garbage and debris that had been left along the exeterior for ‘months if not years.?
Also according to the report, ‘Temporary protection consisting of plastic tarps and light lumber has not been maintained and has been allowed to deteriorate, leaving the building open to the eliments, animals and the public.?
It was also determined the building could not be rebuilt in it’s current location due to lot line setbacks that are no longer grandfathered, and that Valente plans to sell the property for development.
A recommendation the building be destroyed was made, after costs for repairs were determined to far exceed the state equalized value of the building, $54,900.
Council voted to affirm that reccomendation. Valente was not present at the council meeting.
‘If (Valente) doesn’t tear it down, we a going to contract and tear it down,? said York. York added that any cost for the demolition and cleanup would be reimbursed through Valente’s taxes, along with all cost incurred in this process thus far..
‘This is a done deal, one way, shape or form,? said York. ‘It’s coming down’three weeks.?