AMHERST — Some residents may remember the downtown building as a bowling alley, while others likely recall it as the original location of Faces, before the site became a Salvation Army thrift store for more than a decade.
For municipal building inspectors, though, the 159 North Pleasant St. property, next to Ren’s Mobil Service, the North Pleasant Apartments and the downtown post office, has become not only blighted since the Salvation Army consolidated to a location on Route 9 in Hadley 15 years ago, but a potential danger.
On April 18, Building Commissioner Rob Morra issued an enforcement order to Richard Leader of Laguna Niguel, California, the trustee for the building constructed in 1920 as a car dealership, that the 12,000-square-foot structure must be demolished by May 18, and, more immediately, a security fence should be installed around its perimeter and utility services should be disconnected. In addition, demolition permits will be needed.
“Progress of your efforts to secure the property and to obtain the necessary permits or approvals shall be reported to this office,” Morra wrote.
Building Inspector Jon Thompson said Wednesday that he is confident that the lingering issue with the dilapidated property will be resolved, since Leader has been in touch since receiving the enforcement letter and seems willing to work with the town.
Western Mass Demolition Corp. of Westfield has already been on site to examine the property and possibly to put up fences, Thompson said.
Thompson said the building is in rough shape, in part because of how long it has been without a tenant.
“It’s been on our radar for quite a while,” Thompson said “We’ve had orders to board it up.”
In fact, in March 2016 the inspectors and fire department officials determined the abandoned structure was unfit for occupancy, and last fall the town got reports that individuals were entering the building through broken windows and doors.
Thompson said a recent complaint filed with several town departments prompted him, Morra and senior inspector David Waskiewicz to request to be allowed onto the property, and examinations were done on both April 12 and April 17. Fresh graffiti was found on the interior, as well as significant accumulation of water.
The past two years have taken a toll, he said. “It’s quite a bit worse than it was then,” Thompson said.
The roof is leaking and the brick walls are compromised, with bowing evident and areas starting to collapse.
The property has seen a declining property assessment. Despite its location in the heart of downtown, it is assessed at just $170,900, according to the assessors property card, with a simple description that the building is “in very poor condition.”
Located on a 0.57-acre parcel, with a narrow right of way through Ren’s lot, Thompson said he anticipates one of the challenges will be getting a large truck onto the site to remove the debris, once permits are obtained.
Faces opened in 1971 as a clothing boutique, gift shop, record store and head shop, closing in 1991 and merging with the Northampton store opened in 1986. For a time, a section of Faces was sublet to For the Record, a music store that later relocated to its own storefront across the street. The Salvation Army thrift store was at the site from 1992 to 2003.
In 2008, the Amherst Redevelopment Authority explored the building as a possible renewal project, though was informed that, because Leader was up to date on property taxes, it was not for sale and couldn’t be easily acquired.
