It sits vacant, empty for years and years. A fire from a druggie in the upper apartment caused a lot of damage in July 2004. I spoke to a former owner a couple of years after the fire.
He told me the building inspector told him he would be allowed to make improvements while he repaired the damage under a grandfather system (that would not impose new building codes on the old structure). But once he had the interior stripped out, a new building inspector changed the rules and required that the remodel bring the space up to modern building codes. He felt the change was unfair, as well as more cost than he could absorb.
The building has since sold. Assessor records show Ruston Building, LLC bought it in March 2007.
He told me the building inspector told him he would be allowed to make improvements while he repaired the damage under a grandfather system (that would not impose new building codes on the old structure). But once he had the interior stripped out, a new building inspector changed the rules and required that the remodel bring the space up to modern building codes. He felt the change was unfair, as well as more cost than he could absorb.
The building has since sold. Assessor records show Ruston Building, LLC bought it in March 2007.
Is there any role for us as a community to help get this building back on track? Is encouragement enough? Is there more the town's elected leaders could be doing? It's a tough time in the market right now, but throwing out some ideas can't hurt. It would be great to see something positive happening in this empty space.
21 comments:
The bureaucrats are running out of work so nitpicking do overs are in style. Works for them but not for owners or the general public when they run up the costs.
I know the current owners. They plan to remodel the building.
Give the owners a special use permit.You can not meet the parking requirements as they now stand.Let them restore it into a resturant,cafe or some such.Leave two-three apts above.There is plenty of parking along 51st Street.The planning commissoin and council need to think outside the box.One step at a time people.One step at a time.
We sure could use a little good news today....
Glad to hear it. Please let them know they have lots of support from many of us in the community. They might contact the business district, too. There may be way for them to work together...
This dialoge is "good news"!
It would really be awesome if these ideas and energy were actually brought to the Business District or our planning commission members and council members. We all need to step up and ask that our visions of our business core be recognized and discussed openly.
I believe this is a very exciting time to have such an opportunity to take part in Rustons future.
While we're on this topic..has anyone really looked at pointruston.com ~ check out the retail tenant mix plan ~ it is very thorough. They have done all the studies we need to help us make decisions on how to complement or compete with what "is" going to happen. Just something to ponder...
I completely agree that the town needs to do whatever they can to encourage the current owner to bring this property back to life.
What does it say about our business district when we have an ugly, abandoned building sitting vacant for years?
The last time I checked the assessor's page, this building was purchased by Kessler Construction.
The assessor's page now shows the owners as "The Ruston Building, LLC", but no records of a sale. Anybody know the scoop?
We love Don's and the Sandwich Co., but my family would love to have another restaurant or cafe within walking distance.
Didn't Kessler Construction build that cool old-style gray house with the four columns in front on Winnifred?
If any of you know the new owner(s), have them contact the new town planner. Much easier to work with (not to mention less expensive, less excruciatingly slow, and less inclined to run up permitting costs) than the old one. This building should definitely be renovated and a new business added to our Town. I vote for Italian restaurant.
Yes, Itallian is good!!
An Itallian run Casino would be even better.
An Italian-run casino would be a great idea! Someone should call Tony Soprano and see if he would be interested. Who knows, maybe he can knock down the antique store next door and put a Bada-Bing in instead.
Italian foods makes me fart.Better stick with american heritage.
However, allow gambling and go go
girls.
Fart is a very offensive word!
I think flatulent would be more in tune with the new "Civil" dialog.
Tony Saprono is a bad role model for Ruston. How bout Jimmy Hoffa instead?
I bet somebody in town knows his wherebouts.
Karen, these two are back. Thankfully there are only two of them.
Do you think it's anybody's business but the owner's about what should be done with this property?
I agree with the last comment in many ways. But it ignores the reality of things like zoning codes. The increasing pressure to protect existing water views for homes in Ruston is one example.
I think the thoughtful comments here (ignore the silly ones) can give the owners not only some ideas on what might be well received (an informal marketing survey), but hopefully let them (and our elected leaders) know there is support for opening a business in this vacant building. I don’t think anyone here is trying to tell these owners what to do. Offering suggestions and encouragement is a good thing – one that can be ignored if preferred.
Protecting existing water views Karen? How do you figure there is increasing pressure to protect water views when you use this blog to commend and promote the developments of Mr. Cohen and the Ruston Landing Group? These developments are full of multi=story buildings, 6 floors to 95 feet high in some cases. That is not so subtle pressure on your part using your blog to push the opposite viewpoint.
I think you have your right to your opinion about this, but I can't follow your logic about linking the view argument to what is being printed here about the old Cole's property.
The increasing pressure that seems prevalent by you and those who favor your point of view is to let the developers build high structures, that certainly do not protect water views.
I agree with the previous poster: it's only his business what he wants to build, not ours, as long as he stays within the codes. Even having said that, if he follows the example of Mike Cohen, Woltzer,RLG and others, he can go for a variance to do something outside the codes.
I'm all for letting them tear the joint down.Let them build new from the ground up.Waive the parking requirements.Use the same standards from Pearl street(only 2 levels though)do to no parking.
Put a roof garden on top for views,
and let them have a go at it!
Where did you get these pictures?
I took these pictures from 51st Street a couple of weeks ago.
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