Newburgh discusses demolition of 82 Clinton Street garage

By Lina Wu
Posted 11/13/19

Jason Morris, City Engineer for Newburgh, presented on the demolition of a garage located at 82 Clinton Street at last Thursday’s Newburgh City Council work session.

The property was …

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Newburgh discusses demolition of 82 Clinton Street garage

Posted

Jason Morris, City Engineer for Newburgh, presented on the demolition of a garage located at 82 Clinton Street at last Thursday’s Newburgh City Council work session.

The property was acquired by the city through back taxes over a year ago.

“The garage located behind the residential structure is structurally deficient,” said Morris. “And has partially collapsed into the neighboring yard of 80 Clinton Street. The city was informed of the partial collapse on October 25.”

A portion of the wall on the east side of the structure collapsed. “The only solution is to take the whole structure down,” said Morris. “Before the structure completely collapses.”

According to Morris, city departments like the Fire Department responded to the incident.

The structure was reviewed, and residents in the surrounding area were contacted over the incident. The emergency procurement process was begun for the purpose of an emergency demolition of the structure. Morris informed the council that the contracts for the emergency demolition and asbestos abatement process will be available soon.

Last week the bids were received for three emergency contractors for the demolition. The low bid came in around 95 thousand dollars. The bids range from 95 thousand dollars to 240 thousand dollars.

“The complicating factor with this demolition,” said Morris. “Is that the garage is filled with a number of automotive related chemicals and propane tanks, and other things that requires extreme caution while the demolition takes place.”

“What we have here is demolition by neglect,” said City Manager Joe Donat. “You know the city acquired the property through no fault of our own.”

The demolition is one of many factors that are taken into account in the City Manager’s controversial 2020 fiscal budget.

“Our budget is getting better,” said Councilman Anthony Grice. “It’s things like this through willful neglect that really put us into this situation.”