OBSERVER File Photos A Gowanda Zoar Road property is counting down its final days as the Collins Town Board has approved its demolition.

COLLINS — The town of Collins began the removal process for dilapidated buildings back in 2015. Those eyesores will soon be yesterday’s news.

The bid for demolition of the property at 2296 Gowanda Zoar Road was recently accepted.

The building in the village of Gowanda had grass growing in the windows and was not contained properly. Ultimately, Collins Town Supervisor David Tessmer and the board voted yes to the demolition.

“Feels great, but it will feel better once it’s in the ground and a vacant lot with top soil on it and a paid bill,” Tessmer said.

For the property at 3585 Route 39, Collins Center, the process has not been so smooth. The property has a hole in the roof that is only bound to grow as Western New York weather takes its toll, as well as a tree growing in front of the entrance.

What stalled the demo, besides difficulty in addressing the owners about the condition, was asbestos. The job will soon go out for bidding to remove the asbestos first, then it will bid out the demolition. The cost of doing the two operations was reasonable.

“I want that issue behind us,” Tessmer said, “so that once we do a bid we could consider the same thing: that (the house) is certified asbestos-free.”

There is no time table for the asbestos removal, but it is expected to be completed during the summer.

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