By>Lea KahnStaff Writer
Concerned about the deteriorating condition of the former Craft Cleaners property at 1840 Brunswick Pike, township officials are considering the legal process they might need to follow to gain access to the vacant building.
Municipal Attorney Michael Herbert told the Township Council at its June 21 meeting that he is looking at state regulations regarding unsafe structures.
Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun told the council efforts have been made to contact the property owner, Lakewood-based Pintov Equities LLC, which acquired the property located at the corner of Trumbull Avenue in 2007.
But he said township officials might have to go to court to get into the building to assess its condition. The goal is to get a cost estimate for possible demolition.
”Eventually, if we can find the money for demolition, we will seek permission to demolish it. The building is still in private hands, but it is subject to liens against it,” said Mr. Krawczun.
There are tax liens against the property for unpaid property taxes.
”The challenge to the site is that we are not certain of the environmental conditions. We have to be cautious not to take on the liability for remediation without having a clear source of funding to do the work,” he said.
The Craft Cleaners site was formerly a gasoline service station. The dry-cleaning business opened in 1969, but the store closed at least 10 years ago. Those two uses “historically lead to contamination,” said Mr. Krawczun.
