OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford Pictured is 10-14 E. Main St. in Brocton.

BROCTON — The properties at 10-14 E. Main St., a source of controversy of years, are the subject of a renewed push for demolition.

Mark Odell, who represents Brocton on the Chautauqua County Legislature, recently provided the OBSERVER with a series of documents detailing recent calls for the structure to get torn down. He also provided a copy of the 2016 assessment of the building done for the village by Buffalo engineers Nussbaumer & Clarke, Inc.

“It is our continued recommendation that the Village should condemn the entire building, post it unsafe for occupancy, and acquire site control of 14 E. Main St., either through negotiated relocation with the property owner, purchase of the property at market value from the market owner, or through eminent domain,” Chautauqua County Land Bank Executive Director Gina Paradis wrote in a letter to Brocton Mayor Richard Frost on March 21.

Brad Bentley, director of public facilities for Chautauqua County, wrote Frost on Match 29 to say the county concurs with the Land Bank. “The Village should be proactive in securing the building to ensure the safety of the community,” Bentley wrote. “If the strtucture is left unaddressed, the risk of structure failure and associated liability issues could be significant.”

The county owns 10 E. Main St., which has a collapsed roof and floors, according to the Nussbaumer & Clarke report. “The exterior walls at side and rear of this portion of the building are leaning, bowing and in danger of collapse,” the report adds.

The part of the structure at 14 E. Main St. is owned by Tim and Karen Cave. Paradis noted in her letter that though the Land Bank has pledged money to the village to assist in demolition of the building, the entire structure must be under the control of municipal entities first.

The Nussbaumer & Clarke report found 14 E. Main St. in better condition than its neighbor at 10 E. Main, but warned the wall the buildings share needs significant repairs. The portion at 14 E. Main could be saved if 10 E. Main is torn down, but “requires temporary supports during demolition and significant repairs once demolition is complete. This additional work makes saving 14 E. Main St. more expensive than tearing it down,” the report states.

The village of Brocton apparently continues to work on solutions with the Caves. On April 6, the Caves attended a 54-minute-long Brocton Board of Trustees executive session “to discuss real estate and potential litigation,” according to the board minutes.

Odell told the OBSERVER that both the Land Bank and the village, seeking to demolish the building, have offered to buy the building from the Caves — but so far, they have refused the offers.

“I believe for the safety of the general public that this building needs to be condemned and eminent domain established in order for the Land Bank to execute its very generous offer,” he said.