"I'm not going to let you come here and insult people," Daley said angrily after Johnson dismissed comments by a member of the public.
"You don't know what you're talking about," Johnson had just said to Middletown landlord and housing developer Frank Nunes, owner of
Portland Street Reclamation. Nunes had said that it was cheaper to build a house from scratch than to renovate.
The argument started when Johnson criticized the city, and specifically town planner Bill Warner for less-than-enthusiastically advertising a set of houses at 20-23 Portland Street. The houses, which have been designated as blighted, are being offered for free to anyone, along with a $65,000 grant to renovate the houses to HUD standards. Johnson questioned the competency of anyone, or any department in the city to "handle old houses."
The Committee had just voted to pursue demolition if a qualified potential owner does not step forward in the week or so before a demolition contract is signed. The houses will cost nearly $90,000 to demolish because of lead abatement.
"You can't make the problem go away by tearing down those buildings," Johnson said. "Much of what is being said in this room is hearsay."
Nunes, who owns several rental units on Portland Street claimed that the houses are beyond restoration, stripped inside to the studs, stipped of copper plumbing and with a crumbling foundation. He also said the houses were not secure and that drug addicts tear down plywood blocking doors and windows to store their drugs inside the house.
"There was a drug den in the basement," Committee member Joe Bibisi interjected.
Nunes said he was at one point interested in owning the property to demolish the buildings and create a parking lot, but that his interest waned when he learned of the need to practice strict lead abatement during demolition.
As the discussion got more heated, voices were raised.
"He's got money invested in the street," Daley shouted at Johnson. "Why don't you put your money up and buy the buildings?"
The discussion moved to the hallway as the meeting adjourned with Johnson accusing Daley of being more willing to listen to landlords than to preservationists on the topic of old housing stock in the city.
This woman needs a hobby
ReplyDeleteEd - An important element that you left out of your report is that EDC had voted to proceed with applying for a demolition permit, recognizing that doing so would automatically initiate a referral to the Greater Middletown Preservation Trust which has the right to object to the demolition and trigger a full review. We also included in the vote a stipulation that we would consider proposals to preserve / rehabilitate the properties up until the time a contract for demolition is signed - which will be one to two months (i.e. "not next week"). We have had two developers who are property owners on Portland Street testify that rehab of the properties is not economically feasible and have had no takers on our offer of a grant to help rehab the properties. Ms. Johnson feels we have not done enough to advertise the availability of the properties, and she is entitled to her opinion; but, she is not justified in demeaning the committee, the Director, or members of the public who disagree with her.
ReplyDeletePeople wanting to preserve this building are hypocrites. Where were they when the CHC proposed and the city approved the demolition of 3 very nice homes (6 affordable housing units) along Grand Street? They were replaced with a parking lot is that good design?
ReplyDeleteWhy no opposition Ms. Johnson ? You had every oppertunity on P&Z.
Good for Daley. She is the only one trying to save these dumps. Portland Street thanks you Mr. Daley.
ReplyDeleteSave what matters ! These buildings are drug dens and destroyed!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteCatherine Johnson is pretty much my hero
ReplyDelete" 'You don't know what you're talking about,' Johnson had just said to Middletown landlord and housing developer Frank Nunes, owner of Portland Street Reclamation. Nunes had said that it was cheaper to build a house from scratch than to renovate. "
ReplyDeleteOK then. I challenge Ms. Johnsnon to present a credible financial analysis showing that Mr. Nunes is wrong. Until she does so, her opinion is as much hearsay (perhaps more) than that expressed by anyone who has actually looked at the buildings and tried to come up with a plan to rehab them.