The City of Bradford Board of Health took steps Tuesday to
enforce a deadline in demolishing the old Eagles Club building at
20-24 E. Washington St.
The board unanimously passed a motion to force the owner to
either take down the building or else the city will.
The building, owned by Sugargrove Compressors Inc., and in the
care of Russell Russo of Bethlehem, has a partially collapsed roof
and in danger of falling over.
“If it (falls over), it will be on the street side,” as opposed
to falling into the Tunungwant Creek, said Health Director George
Corignani.
It was with these issues in mind that the board voted Feb. 6 to
declare the building a public nuisance, effectively preparing it
for demolition.
The old Eagles Club was considered a contributing building to
the Bradford’s historic district, but structural damage is so bad
that it is not considered salvageable, according to the board.
The board cited Russo’s ignored chances to stop the demolition
as a factor in the decision.
He will be fined the maximum $10,000, however, the fines would
be dropped if he paid for the demolition himself within 30 days. If
not, the city will seek the demolition costs plus the penalty.
“There is essentially nothing (Sugargrove Compressors) can do to
stop it,” said Special Counsel Greg Henry.
The Board of Health also took similar measures against property
on 22 Colegrove Ave. owned by the estate of Louis Verrelli,
unanimously voting that the property must be torn down in 30 days
or else the city will.
The $10,000 penalty would also be applied to Verrelli’s
estate.
The estate, which has another two buildings on the city’s 2007
demolition list, said it did not have enough money left to keep up
the building, according to Corignani.
Because of this, Henry recommended that Verrelli’s estate be
given time to tear it down, but not time to fix the building as it
has initially desired.
The board also rejected an extension to the deadline for an
appeal by the estate.
Finally, the board unanimously motioned that the fire-destroyed
290 South Ave. building is a public nuisance and the owner has
until Monday to resolve the situation.
“It’s to the point where it’s in danger of collapse,” said
Corignani.
The building, which was ravaged by a February fire and has not
been cleaned since, is owned by Scrubb Younes, 29 Yarnall St.,
Kane.
