Town takes step to have dilapidated building on Lake Shore Road razed

The Grafton Town Board last week agreed to issue a raze-and-abate order for a dilapidated structure on Lake Shore Road.

Town Chairman Lester Bartel said an outbuilding at 614 Lake Shore Rd. was built in the mid-1980s with no permits from the town. The structure abuts the neighboring property line. 

“The board has determined the property is beyond fixing, and the building inspector said it’s not repairable anymore,” Bartel said.

“It’s an unattractive nuisance and needs to be removed. It’s pretty obvious it was built without permits.”

The property belongs to the trust of the late James Dutton. Bartel said he is not sure if Dutton built the structure. 

Bartel said Michelle Glasshof, who lives on the property, is opposed to razing the structure.

“We’re letting this thing progress through the process,” Bartel said. 

An attorney representing the trust said he has contacted area contractors to take the structure down but hasn’t been successful with finding a service provider this time of year because they are busy with seasonal projects.

“That could be a possibility, knowing how busy all the contractors are this time of year,” Bartel said.

Bartel said the town will remove the structure as a last resort if necessary because it will take a long time to recoup the money for demolition.

In September, the board agreed to give the trust 30 days to have a contractor in place and 60 days to raze the structure. 

Town officials said the trust will have 30 days to remove the building once a notice is served. Town Attorney Sara MacCarthy said the raze-and-abate order will be published and served.

She said the town is optimistic the trust will be able to secure a contractor before the town has to act.

“We would be satisfied with a contract, even if the contractor was to take it down by June 1,” Bartel said.