PLYMOUTH — How to solve the problem at The Pointe continues to plague the Plymouth City Council with another discussion
to decide how to bring the situation to some resolution.
The cost to demolish the building has been discussed by the Plymouth Common Council and Board of Works and Safety for around two years. During that time, the State Attorney General’s office has placed a lien against the property of around $400,000, which they will not relinquish, and this is now muddying the waters of just what to do in demolishing the property.
In discussion with the city attorney, Jeff Houin, Attorney General Todd Rokita’s office has stated they “want nothing to do with the demolition of the building” or its cost, but once demolished, they will exercise their $400,000 lien against the property.
With no money for the demolition of the Pointe in this year’s budget, the city of Plymouth has been left with the choice of boarding up the property and waiting for next year’s budget or appropriating around $80,000 extra to the unsafe building fund for demolition. Of course, even that figure is contingent on the contractor that was awarded the bid for the project in August, honoring his bid of $50,000 to take down the property.
If the project has to be rebid, the estimate is a 15-20 percent increase to take the building down.
During the discussion, Councilman Don Ecker asked Mayor Robert Listenberger for guidance on his wishes.
The Council voted to prepare the additional appropriation pending the contractor’s approval to honor his August bid for demolition.
Due to a state change in the process, the decision will not be able to be considered until March.
