Log in Subscribe

Thompson removing unsafe buildings

Patricio Robayo - Reporter/Photographer
Posted 4/15/21

THOMPSON — The Town of Thompson has been busy removing or securing over 120 unsafe structures over the past five years.

The Thompson Building, Planning and Zoning Department routinely present …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Thompson removing unsafe buildings

Posted

THOMPSON — The Town of Thompson has been busy removing or securing over 120 unsafe structures over the past five years.

The Thompson Building, Planning and Zoning Department routinely present structures to the town board that they have deemed unsafe, in need of repair or demolition.

A recent report on dilapidated structures from the town stated the homes have become “unsafe and dangerous to the safety, health protection and general welfare of persons and property.”

During a reorganizational meeting in January 2020, Thompson Town Supervisor Bill Rieber Jr. said the town would continue to participate in Grow the Gateways initiative, which hopes to revitalize the Monticello - Thompson corridor on State Route 17.

“We have close to 300 structures on the list, and last year [2019], we did around 30 properties,” said Rieber.

Once the property is deemed unsafe, the property owner is notified. A public hearing is then scheduled, allowing the property owner to respond and those affected by the ramshackle home to have their say.

As previously reported in the Democrat, if the property owner appears before the town board, they are given a certain amount of time to rectify the situation.

If the property owner does not fix the problem within a time frame that has been agreed upon, they can be brought before the town board again. If the property owner does not correct the run-down property after multiple times, the town goes out for bid to hire a demolition company to remove the structure and levy the owner's cost. Sometimes asbestos inspection has to be done before demolition and if found, the toxic product is carefully disposed of.

The town says that when the structure poses “an immediate danger to the public, the town may use statutory authority to remove the building right away. Otherwise, it can take up to six months for the town to remove a blighted building - even if everyone is moving as quickly as possible to get the job done.”

The town said in their blog post, “In just a few years, many of these buildings are now completely gone - most of them removed at little or no cost to the town and taxpayers.”

Currently, the town is “aggressively addressing the remaining 80 or so buildings.”

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here