For all the excitement that came with the sight of the old Route 9 clock factory being torn down, there have been some concerns by residents about the status of the seemingly stalled project.
At an event where he addressed members of the Howell Chamber of Commerce, Deputy Mayor William Gotto said work had stopped at the site when asbestos was discovered in the building.
Citing the demolition as an example of the township's property maintenance code, Gotto said the asbestos will not stop the project from going forward once the proper permits have been obtained by the owner.
He also said he was glad to see the work that had already been done while there was still more to do. "What would you rather have, would you rather have a building that's sitting there vacant, that is an eyesore and has no plans to ever be knocked down filled with graffiti," he asked. "Or would you rather have someone talking about knocking it down, filing for his permits at the DEP to do asbestos abatement so he can continue to remove the building."
The property maintenance code, he said also gives the township certain options if the owner does not further pursue the building's demolition. "If it stays the way it is and he doesn't file or his permits, we have a property maintenance ordinance that says you need to do this," he said. "Yes it's a pile of rubble, and there's a reason it's a pile of rubble."
Councilman Robert Nicastro said it was "disappointing," seeing the project stuck after work had already begun. "You'd like to see it torn down yesterday but I understand that there's some hazards that have to be mitigated through the state," he said. "We're confident it's going to get completed."
On Wednesday night Nicastro said the township's building department has "contacted the property owner to have them secure the site until the state allows the demolition to continue." The councilman added that a summons will then be issued if the site is not secured in a timely manner.
When it is finally brought down, Gotto said that will be a good step forward for the township. "You can't get any more central in the middle of our town," he said. "It's right in the middle of Route 9 and it's right in the middle of 195. It's being torn down because of the process that got put in place with the property maintenance code."
seventeen
2:48 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
They found Asbestos? No, REALLY?! Is that supposed to be a surprise? Whoever allowed them to start demolishing that building without the proper permits should be fired. Now the township has bigger problems since that Asbestos has been disturbed. That needs to be contained and cleaned up, immediately. Can't wait for the owner to do it. Why do you think that building NEVER sold? Too expensive to clean up the Environmentally Hazardous Waste on that property. Now the taxpayers will have to do it.
grace abramov
6:47 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
i some times think that this asbestos issue was made up by attorneys so that there could be law suits. what is more dangerous having an ugly piece of trash rotting away on township property or tearing it down with maybe the possibility of contamination. i give the town council a thumbs up on this one, it is way long over due andshould have been years ago when the clock factory left the site. we cannot have these types of structures around out town. owners whether they are business or homeowners need to take responsibilty for their property. we need to be proud of where we live and do business. who wants to come to a town where there are places that look like Camden.
webby
11:34 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Instead of worrying about how our town seems to look to others right now I would be more concerned about the damage this is doing to our lungs!
tom
2:01 pm on Friday, October 12, 2012
Just goes to show the health and welfare of the residents weren't taken into consideration. The are laws that need followed before a project like this starts, they are the to protect the workers and public. I guess the township is bigger than the State and Federal goverment and don't need to follow them.
webby
11:32 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Oh great! No wonder why so many have dies around here with cancer and also a lot of people around here have MS.Just what we needed no asbestos has been spread and we all are breathing it everyday.They stopped using the old Police station years ago because it was built with asbestos they would not fix it because it was too dangerous.How in the heck did they allow this to be started ?They should have known.What kind of a building dept do we have?Maybe it is time for another clean sweep like they had to do years ago.Who was paid off to allow the poisoning of the residents?I already have breathing problems as many others do in this town. Time to let our Dr's know and find out just how bad this is for us all to breath!