Abandoned Building Ordinance
This is a great ordinance that needs to be enforced to the fullest extent. Besides the obvious that most are aware to secure windows and doors so people can not enter and to remove any unsafe material, there is one part of the ordinance that I do not believe is being enforced as well as it can be.
7. Maintain liability insurance on the building and furnish the deputy commissioner with a copy of said certificate of insurance; and,
The City of Worcester should be a place that business-owners see as being business friendly. At the same time, the City of Worcester should use whatever means possible to let owners of abandoned buildings that City of Worcester does not want abandoned buildings, which are inherently dangerous.
posted by Bill Randell @ 3:20 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
How about all the abandoned buildings that the city owns.
4 recently closed elementary schools. Is City in compliance with the "boarded up building ordinance" that was passed after the Cold storage fire? Probably not. Call Plywood Ranch at Park & Mill St. Plywood City here we come on Mill St at Mill Swan. Betcha the "Mill St Corridor Committee" folks drive by it 2X a day! Is the old Price Choper boarded up? If it is, I guess they obey the law Do as I say, knot as I do!
How about the old fire alarm building on Park Ave opposite Elm Park? What did the consultant's report say about the stabilty and structural integrity of it? I am telling you, the bricks will soon be cascading from the gable to the ground.
Leaking school roofs. No problem. We'll just bust citizens chops about ripped siding and abandoned vehicles as the city's buildings crumble and implode. 5 gallon pails are cheaper by the truckload
Underground parking garage behind city hall supported by temporary wooden uprights (as per Womag last week). No problemo'. We're the city and we can do as we want, but we'll bust on you if your gutter is hanging. When it falls on the gang of 11, maybe it will knock some sense into them. Can a city councillor do I.O.D.??
Imploding salt storage shed on East Worcester st. at DPW headquarters?? Si' Senor !!! Do as the Sec 139 abandoned building committee does. Just turn a blind eye to it. Hell all of our DPW employees wear hard hards !!
WTH doesnt the City comdemn some of its own structures?
Tort:
All I can say is that instead of the city trying to create new ordinances that we should simply enforce the ones on the books. One of the best is this one.
Of course it should not be selectively enforced. If the owner is the City of Worcester, the Commonwealth of Mass, the Federal Gov't, a college or owned by an influential party enforce all facets to the fullest extent.
Not only are we trying to send a message that abandoned empty buildings are not wanted in Worcester, but lets not forget why this ordinance was created. An empty abandoned building is inherently dangerous.
Bill
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