By: Sue Kramer
LAMBERTVILLE — “It can’t fall down because all the junk inside is holding it up,” said one neighbor, who asked not to be identified, of Christopher Carson’s property at 73 Bridge St.
The building was to be discussed at a special meeting of the City Council tonight. The city will consider demolishing the building as Mr. Carson did not respond to its May 26 deadline to submit plans to repair or demolish the structure.
Another neighbor, who also requested anonymity and was able to step into the open doorway of the condemned building last week, told The Beacon it “looked like a maze,” with narrow passageways creeping through the “mounds and mounds of debris that is stacked up floor to ceiling of all three floors and the basement.”
Newspapers, garbage, boxes, clothing and plants, the neighbor said, are stacked “to the ceiling, all the way.”
As they talked about the front third-floor storm window that crashed to Bridge Street one Sunday morning two months ago and the general hazards of the property, other neighbors were more than willing to speak out about the building and the threat to their properties.
“As an adjoining neighbor, I have a concern for my property here,” said Rick Carmosino who owns the property at 71 Bridge St. “It’s in the collapse zone, especially if it comes down towards the side, which it looks like it may do. I am also concerned about the element of fire, which would probably involve my building and other surrounding buildings.
“Although our fire department is very good at making ‘quick stops,’ if it gets a good burn, it’s going to burn and do damage to more than just the building it started in. I’m very concerned for my building and my property. I own where my tenant is. I’m concerned for his well-being. He’s a self-employed artist, and if anything happens to my building, he’s going to lose money and work.”
Jeremy Weitz, who owns the Bridge Street House bed and breakfast at 75 Bridge St., said he doesn’t think the condition of the adjoining building has been a detriment to his business so far. Mr. Weitz has owned the bed and breakfast for 10 months. His building and Mr. Carson’s building share a common wall.
“I think it’s no immediate danger to me, my guests or my building,” he said.
The yellow police tape and barricades around the adjoining property are causing more talk among his guests than the condition of the building, he said, but he was quick to add, “I’m proud of the city for taking action.”
As curiosity drove people to duck under the yellow tape to read the red sign on the front door Saturday morning, Paula Cooperman, the owner of Mill Crest Antiques across the street at 72 Bridge St., shook her head.
“The problem with having it barricaded is that it’s definitely stopping business from coming to this end because they — the general public — have no idea why that has happened.”
Ms. Cooperman also expressed concern for the Bridge Street House and its owner. Like many, she is concerned about a potential collapse and the possible demolition of the property adjoining his.
“I don’t want anything to affect this young man across the street,” she said.
