PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Presque Isle City Council gave a dangerous building notice to Fernand Martin last September, giving the property owner 30 days to abate substandard conditions in several downtown properties.
And while most of the properties listed in the September notice have been taken care of in one way or another, a more than 4,000-square-foot home at 14 Park St. remains a condemned property with severe health and safety issues, according to city code enforcement.
The city has been patient with Martin, City Manager Martin Puckett said. But because the property remains in its deteriorated condition, the city posted a March 31 legal notice regarding the property.
“There are foundation issues, roof issues and the property owner was asked to submit a plan,” Galen Weibley, director of economic and community development, said. “We need to get some concrete deadlines and take care of this hopefully without destroying the structure.”
And while Martin did submit a plan to the city for repairs to the 14 Park St. property, there were no dates or timelines as to when the work would be completed, Weibley said.
Martin has 30 days to comply or the city has the option of demolishing the property, according to the published notice.
The demolition notice states that the property is structurally unsafe, unstable and unsanitary, constitutes a fire hazard, is unsuitable or improper for occupancy, constitutes a hazard to health or safety because of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence or abandonment.
“The City Council hereby ORDERS that the owner, Fernand Martin shall, within thirty days of service of this Order, abate all conditions creating a nuisance or dangerous conditions to the satisfaction of the Code Enforcement Officer,” the notice reads. “Upon failure of the owner to comply within the specified time, the owner shall be assessed a civil penalty of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per day and the City Council further authorizes the City Manager to effect demolition and removal of the structure.”
In November, City Code Officer George Howe placed a notice on the property, banning anyone from being inside the structure.
And Martin assured the city that as of Christmas, no one is living in the house.
The status of Martin’s structures listed in the September city council order:
- 23 Turner :Sold at auction, new owners in process of demolishing the structure
- 25 Turner: City demolished in 2020
- 14 Park: Still ongoing, waiting for an adequate plan with concrete deadlines
- 227 State: Property still owned by Martin and an adequate plan was submitted by the owner who is working to correct the issues.
Martin could not be reached for comment on the property.
In the event the Park Street property is demolished, the demolition and removal shall be charged against the land and a lien will be placed on the land.
“We have to make sure we are safeguarding the community and that this property is in compliance,” Weibley said.
A Presque Isle downtown property at 14 Park St. is a dangerous property and if the owner does not comply with the city’s demand for repairs, the building could be demolished. (Courtesy City Presque Isle)
A Presque Isle downtown property at 14 Park St. is a dangerous property and if the owner does not comply with the city’s demand for repairs, the building could be demolished. (Courtesy City Presque Isle)
