Tuesday night Maplewood City Council voted 7-0, with no discussion, to approve the demolition of the 12-unit apartment building at 2270-2272 Yale Avenue.
The building has a history of maintenance violations, according to city notes. A city ordinance states that if a building is “so deteriorated or unsafe that in the opinion of the director of public works, the structure may be declared a public nuisance.”
The violations weren’t remedied following two nuisance hearings, and in June, 2012, a request for bids was made to demolish the building. Aalco Wrecking will do the job for a low bid of $44,470.
City Manager Marty Corcoran said multiple permits are needed before the demolition can take place, so it’s hard to say when the work might begin.
The council also approved a new water play feature for the Maplewood Family Aquatic Center swimming pool to replace the ‘whale’ slide. Pool staff has reported that children have been injured using the whale slide. A multi-bucket Vortex Aquatic Play Solutions structure was chosen over others, even though it was the high bid, at $14,260.
The council liked the Vortex product over the others because of its sturdy construction, visual appeal and it uses buckets in stead of cones – “more water to be dumped on the children.”
A ordinance to approve tattoo and piercing studios in Light Manufacturing zones was on the agenda, but was tabled because the full council wasn’t present.
The next council meeting is scheduled for January 14, 2014.
I am a neighbor to this building. apparently maplewood cannot tear it down as it was recently sold. sounds like the legalities are backwards. we are still waiting for the completion of the road project. we have no grass. lots of mud. and equipment left behind. the councils priorities are a bit off I think
Wait a minute. The city council had time to spend ~$45k to destroy a building, and ~$15k to put in a water toy that is buckets over cones (the most expensive item too), yet they have kept stalling on letting a tattoo parlor set up shop? Why? Bringing in revenue and making Maplewood a place where the “cool folks” in the area want to spend their money sends like a top priority to me.