07/06/76 Board of Public Works Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JULY 6, 1976 Mr. Brademas suggested that the members of the Board inspect this house or have an�inspection made by some City staff member with technical experience in this field. Mr. Brademas said he is required to provide letters of credit to show that he has the finances to complete a project. He said he would ask the Board to require some kind of indication from Mr. Podell that he can complete this renovation project. Mr. Podell said Mr. Brademas was referring to large projects which require the posting of bonds and other matters that require long periods of time. He said this is a home and to secure a building permit does not require ninety days. Mr. Mullen asked Mr. Podell the cost of moving the house. Mr. Podell said the moving would cost $18,500, plus $2,800 for the Electric Company. Mr. Farrand asked if the foundation has been prepared. Mr. Podell said this has to be done after the house is on the site. Mr. Mullen asked Mr. Podell how much it would take to renovate the house and Mr. Podell said $15,000. Mr. Farrand said he did not think the Board was in a position to approve the house move today. He said Mr. Podell would have to solve the immediate problem of keeping the house from being demolished today. Mr. Farrand said there are two things the Board is interested in. One is an estimate on the cost of the renovation to be used as a guideline and the other is a time limit on the length of time to be allowed for the renovation. He said the Board could require the posting of a bond so that they know the renovation will be completed. Mr. Farrand said he hoped the property owners would consider this fair. He said a qualified representative of the City would make an estimate of repairs and a bond would be required to cover the cost of renovations. The Board would have the power to invoke the bond to have the renovation completed if Mr. Podell failed to do it. Mrs. Cassady asked if this house move meets all City requirements. Mr. Farrand said the move meets the deed restrictions which are more severe than the zoning restrictions. Mr. Podell said he would post a bond if the Board required it. Mr. Brademas asked if the property owners would have an opportunity to review the estimate of renovation cost and the bond requirements, with some guarantee that the estimates are made by someone who is competent. Mr. Farrand said it is the Board's prerogative to determine that someone who is qualified makes the estimate. Mr. Brademas asked if this hearing would be continued at some later date. Mr. Farrand said the hearing has been conducted and the conditions set forth will have to be met by Mr. Podell. He said the Board feels. they have overcome the objections of the property owners. Mr. Farrand said Mr. Brademas has the right to take issue with the Board, but he said the Board is taking steps to see that the house will be restored to its original condition. The house is structurally sound and will not be a detriment to the neighborhood.' Mr. Brademas asked if this meant that the property owners would not have an opportunity to review the estimate andthe bond. Mr. Farrand said the estimate of repairs would be submitted to the Board and they would determine the bond required for the renovations. Mr. Podell asked if any property owner present wished to suggest a contractor to make the repair estimate. He said if no one had 'a suggestion, he would call Allied Construction Company, since he is familiar with that company. Mr. Brademas said, unless a contractor is given an idea of the exact specifications for the renovation, it would be difficult for him to come up with anything but his own idea of an estimate. Mr. Farrand made a motion that the house be inspected by a City staff member and an estimate of the cost of repairs be made, with a bond to cover completion of those repairs to be posted with the Board and that the request for the house move be tabled until this information has been received. Mr. Mullen seconded the motion. Mr. Brademas asked if the property owners would be notified before the Board took final action on the matter. Mr. Farrand said if Mr. Podell can meet the conditions the Board has specified, the judgment will be on the shoulders of the Board and they will handle the matter with Mr. Podell. Mr. Brademas said, with all due respect, he would report now that if the property owners are not given an opportunity to be heard again, they will seek to get a temporary restraining order in the courts so that they may be heard again. The question was called and the motion carried, with Mr. Brunner abstaining.