by Geoff Fox
The Washington County Building Code Board of Appeals met last Wednesday for a hearing that included the fate of the building located at 144 West Main Street.
Only two people from Hancock attended the hearing, one being Town Manager Mike Faith. The owner of the building, Kenneth Apple, was not in attendance.
Faith said the board unanimously voted 4-0 to recommend demolition of the building. One member of the board was not in attendance, however there was a quorum for the meeting.
In January, Apple had been ordered by the board to get building permits after he told them he wanted to fix the property. Apple had 30 days to pull the necessary permits.
During the hearing, Faith said Director of Permits and Inspections Greg Cartrette verified that no permits had been sought for repairs to 144 West Main Street.
Because of that, and that Apple was not in attendance to offer any defense, the board voted unanimously to issue the demolition order of the building.
Apple would be getting a letter from county regarding the order and has the chance to appeal the order through Circuit Court.
Once the 30 days is up for Apple’s appeal, Faith said the town has to decide what to do regarding the building.
Faith did note Apple would be responsible for the cost of the demolition of the building.
“I don’t know if the town really wants to get into the middle of the town paying for it and then trying to get payment back,” Faith said.
The town would be eligible for grant money through the state, but it would take about a year before the money comes back to the town for the demolition.
Faith said Apple could sell the property, but the next owner would be under the same order as it conveys with the property and the town would work with the new owner, as they would like to see the building rehabilitated.
There have been people look at the building and note that it can be repaired, he said.
Should a demolition happen, Faith said it would be at least two months before anything happened. But should Apple decide to demolish the building, he could start that at any time.
If the building is demolished, Faith said it would be similar to the process at 55 West Main Street, which partially collapsed last March 25.
Faith said Pennsylvania Avenue between High Street and Main Street would probably be closed during the hours workers are doing the demolition. Faith added he’d have to talk to residents that live along that portion of Pennsylvania Avenue should they have to close during any demolition work.
He added the town would have to notify businesses along Pennsylvania Avenue who use tractor-trailers for deliveries about the closure as well.