A banking bureaucracy has left a historic home in Pavilion vacant for at least two years and now an outbuilding that fell into disrepair needs to be removed before it further damages property on a neighboring residence.
The Town of Pavilion Board will meet in an emergency session at 6 p.m., Friday, to consider and likely pass a resolution authorizing the town to hire a contractor to tear down the outbuilding.
It's a sad situation, said Town Supervisor Rob LaPoint.
"Everyone in town is frustrated about this," LaPoint said.
The former owners, Carol and Don Logan are both deceased, with Carol passing away in 2019. They had a reverse mortgage on the property and the bank has apparently been unwilling to take title to the property.
The Logan's children have, for some reason, been unable to get title to the property, so since Carol's death, the house and its barn and outbuilding have sat neglected and rotting in the elements.
"They (the children) love the buildings," said LaPoint, who remembers playing at the Logan property when he was a child. "If they had the ability to do something, I'm sure they would."
LaPoint believes either HUD or FHA is planning an eventual foreclosure on the property but it's unclear when that may happen.
There have been several parties interested in buying the property and rehabilitating it, including a daycare center, LaPoint said, but the bureaucracy of it all has prevented anybody from making a purchase offer.
The town code gives the town authority to demolish buildings considered a public safety hazard or a hazard to the property of others. If it wasn't an emergency, there would be a waiting period for the rightful owner of the deteriorating structure to handle the demolition themselves but since this is an emergency situation, the town will be able to order the outbuilding's immediate demolition.
The cost of the demolition will be placed on the tax role of the property and an eventual new owner will be responsible for back taxes.
The Greek-revival house was built in 1825 and has three bedrooms. It is 3,166 square feet. The estimated full market value, according to Genesee County OARS, is $161,957.
Top Photo: Genesee County OARS photo.
Genesee County GIS Map image.
Google Street View image.
