Update on 120 South Park from Tim Tielman:
“By next Wednesday an engineer and an architect will have gone through the building. An engineer already has done exterior survey, and submitted an affidavit that the building is in no danger of collapse; some minor masonry work which might take a crew one day to accomplish is all that needs to be done. Unfortunately, the owner seems determined to continue the steps toward demolition; a crew is there now disconnecting subsurface utilities. Presumably they have city permits to rip up the sidewalks.
“The good news is that Nowak has stayed the demolition order pending hearing arguments from us on Wednesday why the demolition order is unnecessary. We hope to be able to submit reports from the engineer and architect then. The City needs to continue vigorous inspections of the property, followed by enforcement actions. This could result in the owner being fined on a daily basis for outstanding violations. It is also possible to order that, rather than an emergency demolition, emergency repairs be ordered. It may cost $50,000 or more to demolish the building. Why not use that to stabilize the building? ”