Demolishing the vacant and ramshackle Wiss Hotel in Le Roy Village could cost at least twice as much as the Genesee County Legislature discussed Wednesday night before voting to forgive tax liens on the property.
A local real estate investor -- who asked not to be identified -- said he looked at the property one time and had a Rochester-based demolition company give an estimate on taking down the building. The low-end best guess was $175,000.
The investor said that's the price for tearing it down without an asbestos inspection and hauling the material to a dump that would accept potentially contaminated material.
If it could be confirmed before demolition that there's no asbestos present, tearing the structure down and disposing of the material could be cheaper. But an asbestos inspection costs $35,000.
If an inspection was done, he said, and asbestos was found, then the demolition price would climb beyond $175,000, perhaps beyond $225,000.
And that's before dealing with any potential contamination from the former NAPA location next door on Route 19.
It's a great location, he said, but realistically, any investor would need both properties to make it a suitable space for modern retail. The potential expense of buying and leveling both properties so a new business could be built, would eat up most potential profits -- even if the hotel parcel was bought for the price of the tax liens.
With the county washing its hands of the property, it becomes the problem of either the village or property owner.
Gene Sinclair, Le Roy code enforcement officer, said he isn't sure what the village will do. In early 2010, the village started down the path of declaring it an unsafe building, but backed off when it became clear what the potential demolition costs would be.
The investor said the interior of the building is in pretty bad shape and gives anybody who looks at it a pretty clear idea that the building needs to come down.
"I'd hate to wake up some morning and read that the building has fallen down with a couple of people buried under it," he said.
I seen you capturing photos
I seen you capturing photos today Howard(You look like a retired football player..Huuge)lol..This was my favorite bar years ago,This building Is huge also,to bad It couldn't be saved and remodeled or something.
Um,35k for an asbestos Inspection..Being of the era the building was built,I would say yes on the presence of asbestos..no charge.
I'd get rid of that building for a reasonable amount of money IF all the the government regulations weren't gonna hinder the process..
Still miss that beautiful Masonic temple building!!!
"Gene Sinclair, Le Roy code
"Gene Sinclair, Le Roy code enforcement officer, said he isn't sure what the village will do. In early 2010, the village started down the path of declaring it an unsafe building, but backed off when it became clear what the potential demolition costs would be."
Hmmm. Something is wrong with this picture. The building was unsafe until they found out what it would cost to tear it down.....soooooo, now it's safe and won't be torn down??
God forbid...the thought of a
God forbid...the thought of a property owner being held responsible for his property....what IS this world coming to!!!!
Janice, simple checkbook
Janice, simple checkbook balancing -- you can't spend money you don't have.
Leaving this building to
Leaving this building to stand and decay isn't such a good idea. Chances are that someday there will be someone poking around in there, the place either falls down on them or worse yet catches fire. After that happens, the Village of LeRoy will be sued for heaven knows how much money due to the fact that this building was left standing full well knowing that it's unsafe. Seems to me that $225,000 is a good investment on the safety of the community.
Would you pay higher taxes to
Would you pay higher taxes to have it torn down?
The lot that Wiss sits on
The lot that Wiss sits on does not appear to be big enough to put another business on-that would be a good spot for Tim Horton's -they seem to squeeze those into tiny lots.Leroy is a dying town-they need SOMETHING to keep it alive.....being Walmart has basically thrown in the towel,they just won't confirm it.
They better hope Jim Alesi
They better hope Jim Alesi doesn't decide to poking around inside of that building!!!
I have a novel idea. How
I have a novel idea. How about everyone working together, the county,the village,the owner to solve the problem instead of everyone throwing up their hands saying they don't want to know anything about it. These old buildings were built very good back in the day it's not going to just fall down. Before the wrecking ball comes in think about the salvage value in there. The wood work,the old doors and fixtures. That must be worth something. Have someone who knows asbestos mark it so it is not disturbed. The longer it is put off the worse it gets and the more it's gonna cost.
Too bad the monies thieved
Too bad the monies thieved under the guise of "bonuses" for the GCEDC couldn't have been used for better purposes. That is a prominent location, and I agree looks like a perfect Tim Hortons fit. Sorry to say, this is only going to be fixed with some sort of government involvement. Where has the GCEDC been in helping to make this a more attractive location? Oh yeah, I forgot...Stafford CC is BEFORE Leroy, so why bother going that far east?
Gary, from my understanding,
Gary, from my understanding, the roof caved in, and a portion of the 3rd floor crumbled from the roof damage. The brick exterior is just a facade over the original wood building underneath. It also has no parking available at all, a throwback to when people walked everywhere. I enjoyed many a cold Genny Light there, but the writing has been on the wall for a few years now. That building IS unsafe, and for the good of the public it needs to be demolished.
I'm afraid most of the
I'm afraid most of the valuable building materials and fixtures, including the bar, have been removed and are for sale at ReHouse Architechtural Salvage. The bar is for sale for $11,000.
http://yhst-85470523687758.stores.yahoo.net/45269.html
http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=258064&id=46211761587
LOL Gary, I'm sure the people
LOL Gary, I'm sure the people of Perinton are so proud to have this jerk representing them. One more NY Senate clown
What a great bar. Too bad it
What a great bar. Too bad it isn't part of our community any longer.
It's the kind of thing I'd
It's the kind of thing I'd have in my basement, if I hit the lottery
We think a lot alike, Dave.
We think a lot alike, Dave.
Speaking of the bar, I was
Speaking of the bar, I was remembering asking what the drains on the floor at the bar were for. I figured to get rid of mop water, or spilled drinks. I about choked when the owner told me in the old days, ladies were not allowed in the bar area, and guys would just stand at the bar and piss on the floor. I will never forget that as long as I live. ( And a good reason I would never buy that bar).
So much for the 5 second rule
So much for the 5 second rule on a dropped chicken wing
lol
lol
Bud, Those were the good old
Bud,
Those were the good old days. Of course when I was drinking I did kinda the same thing, that's part of the reason I had to stop!!
Why isn't the estate of the
Why isn't the estate of the deceased owner responsible for the building? At the very least, the proceeds from the sale of the salvaged architectural pieces should be placed in a fund to help offset the costs due to the village.
I'm also surprised that there are no historic landmark issues associated with this building, not that it would make much of a difference at this point.
I suppose until the building
I suppose until the building is shedding bricks on the pavement, demolition isn't mandatory. It is indeed a landmark, and it would be sad to imagine it replaced by some trite pretender. ...Sad enough to have lost the exterior balcony. ...Now the death watch awaiting the wrecking ball.
It would seem reasonable that any revenue from salvage should have gone to defray back taxes. Of course we have no insight into the status of the estate or who even carried out the alleged salvage operation.
Anyone with a facebook
Anyone with a facebook account can view the "alleged salvage operation"
http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=258064&id=46211761587
Beth- I used 'alleged' not to
Beth- I used 'alleged' not to infer you were being less than truthful- just qualifying my own lack of first-hand knowledge. Sorry if it appeared to put your credibility in question.
No offense taken. Just
No offense taken. Just wanted to make it clear that there is some sort of "proof", i.e. pictures of them removing the bar from the bar and then the site where the bar is for sale. I have fond memories of that bar and the former owners and employees. Probably spent way too many hours there in my younger years.
And thanks Bud for the
And thanks Bud for the wonderful picture you put in my head. I was always told that that little "ditch" in front of the bar with the drains was for when the men spit out their chewing tobacco. I guess that's the story they told the girls:)
Good times Beth, good times
Good times Beth, good times :)
They had the best beef on
They had the best beef on weck sandwiches. I'll miss the Wiss.
Lots of postings. First. The
Lots of postings. First. The Village of Leroy, has more than enough money,to demolish this building. Really makes you wonder about the Politics that go with the Village of Leroy, NY. This is not a tough job, for any competent demolition crew. Second. I seen a posting on this issue where someone came with a foreign concept of "working together". Third. I witnessed myself as Terry Platt demolished, his burned down Apt building on east main st in Batavia, NY. I find it embarrassing, The Village of Leroy,NY aren't competent enough, for this simple task.