SILVER CREEK - The village of Silver Creek recently spent $34,331 for the demolition and removal of debris of the unsafe building at 207 Central Ave. But now with a for sale sign displayed, residents wonder how the space could be used.
The building which used to house a financial office and apartments is gone, leaving an empty 35- by 70-foot lot.
The empty lot is being sold by Thomas Hartung Real Estate of Silver Creek and according to its website, realtors are asking $29,900 for the commercial property.
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The village demolished the unsafe building at 205-207 Central Ave., Silver Creek, but now that it is up for sale, what will happen to the property?
Town of Hanover Assessor Darlene Fox said the building was assessed in 2012 for $89,000, however 2013 assessments have not yet been made. She said if the lot remains vacant the assessment will definitely go down, but if it is built upon she will not know the value until assessments are made in March.
Hartung's real estate listing says the lot has access to electric service at the street, natural gas and public sewer and water.
There have been recent rumors the property has been permanently disconnected from village water and sewer lines, however Chief Water Operator Herm Griewisch said the village followed usual procedures after a demolition.
"Whenever we demolish a building we cut the water line on the property owner's side so that it can be hooked up again later. For the sewer we do a vent and trap so there is no infiltration. If someone wants to build there they cut out the vent and trap and put in a new one. We always do it this way with a demolition property. Usually when you do a new build you put in new (connections) anyway," he explained in a phone interview.
Mayor Kurt Lindstrom said he has heard there is interest in the property and hopes that someone will make a long-term investment in the village of Silver Creek. He noted before the building was demolished the business was for sale and other nearby small businesses have closed, leaving no small coffee shops or restaurants in downtown Silver Creek.
However, fire codes are going to be a deciding factor in the way his and the village's hopes for development of the property.
The building which was reportedly falling apart before it was condemned in mid-August was sandwiched very closely between A Cut Above the Rest and Ellie's Deli. The building was connected at the roof with the Ellie's Deli building.
Hanover Code Enforce-ment Officer Thomas Gould explained recently buildings cannot be built as close to each other as they used to.
"According to the New York State Uniform Fire Code and the Silver Creek Table of District Regulations in the Silver Creek Zoning Code you need 10 feet on each side of a building as a fire break. That is a 35-foot lot so you could build a 15-foot wide building," he said.
He said a developer could apply for a variance from New York state and the village and may be granted a 5-foot allowance for a fire break if the building was made from fire resistant materials like brick or steel, however this still makes for a thin building.
"It's going to be pretty skinny no matter what you do," Gould said. "There is probably not much of anything you can do with the space. The best thing would be for Ellie's Deli or A Cut Above the Rest to expand their building, and still leave room for the fire break."
