Published: August 11, 2009 11:37 pm      

Ashland 'eyesore' could be removed

City preparing to demolish former Sears building

ASHLAND — The corner of 17th Street and Winchester Avenue may soon undergo a dramatic change.

City officials are preparing to demolish the former Sears building, which has been condemned for more than a year and vacant for more than a decade. Bid packages for its demolition are expected to go out next week and officials say the building could be torn down within two or three months.

Russell businessman Perry Madden and his wife, Susan, own the entire 1700 block of buildings facing Winchester Avenue, including the former Sears building, the Henry Clay House and the vacant lot in between. The pair had planned to convert the Sears building and the vacant lot into a housing complex for seniors.

The couple secured federal tax credits to complete the work several years ago but the project never came to fruition. The Maddens have refused to comment publicly about the situation despite numerous attempts by The Independent.

Perry Madden did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Tuesday.

City Manager Steve Corbitt and Director of Planning and Community Development Mike Miller said they last met with Perry Madden this spring. At that time the couple still intended to refurbish the building but to date there has been no evidence of work commencing there, according to Corbitt and Miller.

“It's been an eyesore for a long time. We have been trying to get movement on it and we haven’t seemed to be able to find a buyer or find a project that works for that,” said Miller.

Corbitt said the city “bent over backwards” supporting the original project and has put a lot of other time and effort into working with the Maddens to see change on the block, but to no avail.

“We feel like we’ve gone as far as we can go,” Miller said.

Both Miller and Corbitt expressed hope that some refurbishment work will begin and the city will not have to knock down the structure.

“What we hope is, due to the condemnation notice and notice of demolition, that they put the building back into occupiable shape and put people in it,” said Corbitt.

“Second best is we tear it down and someone purchases it and the city recoups its money. If the building is not going to be repaired or made serviceable the city will demolish it,” he said. “We don’t want a vacant lot over there more than anyone else but we’ve had multiple comments that it’s the largest eyesore downtown. Once we take it down, a lot of people think a vacant piece of property is more attractive than a condemned building.”

City officials have budgeted $235,000 for the demolition. If the city knocks down the structure, it will place a lien on the property for the cost.

In the past officials have said they did not want to demolish the building because it could take years to get the money back and may make the property less attractive for new investment.

The Maddens, or any other individual with an interest in the property, will have an opportunity to stop the city from demolishing the structure by securing a court-ordered injunction.