OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen Pictured is the former Pawn Starz building on Route 20 in Sheridan, which burned down nearly three years ago.

SHERIDAN — Nearly three years to the date of a fire at the former Pawn Starz building on Route 20, the Town Board finally gave the update that residents have been awaiting ever since. The damaged property is going to be cleaned up.

The Chautauqua County Land Bank is set to take over the site later this year. Supervisor Tom Wik stated that “barring any additional setbacks,” the site will be secured by the Land Bank in September. At that time, a company will be contracted to complete demolition of the site and remove the debris.

The Town of Sheridan has taken every step it could think of to force the property to be cleaned up. Wik stated, “It has been an arduous process, complicated by many legal, environmental and financial roadblocks.”

The non-compliant owner of the property, James L. Langendorfer, was taken to local court, then to the state Supreme Court, but the property remained an eyesore. The property was later sold, but the issues still remained.

The town then asked for help from the Chautauqua County Land Bank, the County Legislature, and the County’s Real Property Tax recovery procedures to secure control of the property.

The town has been hesitant to take over the property because of a long list of liens attached to the property. The town did not want to use taxpayer funds to cover the cost of the liens, as well as the cost of cleaning up the site. In short, Sheridan taxpayers did not make the mess, so they should not be the ones forced to pay for it.

Because the site was private property, the town could not just clean it up itself. Counsel was retained to handle the legal proceedings, but no matter how high the infractions were taken, the property remained a mess.

More than $8,400 in fines were issued in Town Court that were not paid. According to the Town, the property has over $27,000 worth of liens placed on it, as well.

Throughout the past three years, residents have consistently said the area is unsafe, including claims of debris being blown by the wind into the road and onto neighboring properties. Residents have claimed that their vehicles were damaged by debris that was blown into the road, while others have claimed the site has caused a dangerous distraction to drivers as they pass the site.

Upon his election as Supervisor, Wik said one of his main goals was to address the Pawn Starz location.

“The priority right now is that (location),” said Wik. “We’re doing everything we know possible to get it cleaned up. It’s a priority for the entire Town Board.”

Now, with the help of the County Land Bank, it appears that the Town Board – and Sheridan residents — will finally get their wish.