by Geoff Fox
Bruno Reich owns the old Masonic building at 136 and 134 West Main Street in Hancock. It sits beside the building where the former VFW was housed – a building that’s falling down in certain spots.
Reich said he has been in touch with the owner and let him know if the back corner were to fall, it would fall onto his property and damage his building.
“There’s no way around it,” Reich told town officials. “Even if they do the demolition, it’s probably going to be difficult to keep it from hitting my building.”
Reich said he’s been trying to keep his guys from going down the alley between the two buildings.
He’s also been trying to rent the space in 136 West Main Street and his representative has been trying to get someone moved in.
The problem though, Reich said, is when they walk around to the back of the building and see next door, it’s killing his chances to get an occupant.
Reich told town officials he’s had conversations with the owner of the neighboring building and has reportedly been told he plans to fix it.
“This building is one of the prettiest on Main Street on the front. It really would be a shame to lose that building,” Reich said.
Part of his view for the town is the historic core, which Reich said is from Pennsylvania A venue to Church Street, and the buildings in that stretch of Main Street.
Reich said he’d be happy to help with any renovations so there are not a danger to anyone or to his property.
Reich told town officials he’d be willing to purchase the property from the owner if he’d be willing to sell at a reasonable price.
Reich said his company has some experience in the kind of work needed and he would anticipate shoring up the foundation for his own building if renovations move forward.
Reich added if the neighboring wall were to come down, it would fall on the stairwell used to access the second floor of his building.
“So, I’ m perplexed as what to do,” Reich said.
Reich served on a historic preservation committee in Howard County, and said there was a demolition by neglect regulation where properties can’t be let go to the point they start to fall down.
Town Manager Mike Faith said the wheels of government turn slowly and the town officials want to take action.
He said any government could come and take a property, but the current town government is being cautious in the approach on enforcement.
“I understand everyone’s clamoring for us to do something, and I am working on it,” Faith said, “but we did pass an emergency ordinance where you can issue civil citations and gives me the authority to do that. I’m trying to work out a policy with the county that they inspect the property and the town takes enforcement action.”
If there is a fine, Faith added, the money goes back into the town instead of going elsewhere.
Right now, the county’s legal team is looking at the policy and then the town’ s attorney would have to take a look at it as well.
Reich said nobody wants to take property, issue fines, or enforce fines.
Faith said when it comes to property owners that don’t take responsibility for those properties, it’s very difficult to do anything.
If the town were to get a demolition order for the building from the county, it wouldn’t be a good outcome for the building.
Reich added if those people don’t have the intentions to do anything with their buildings, there should be some way to encourage them to sell them.
Faith told Reich there have been credible offers for his buildings, but he hasn’t been willing to sell.
“There’s no easy answer,” Reich said.
