By TEREASA NIMS
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE — Two structures ravaged by fire this year face public hearings for demolition.
Toni’s Place, 2997 Fort St. went up in flames Jan. 30., and on Feb. 4, City Engineer Mark Kowalewski sent a notice for the owners for them to either secure a permit for repair the building or to have it demolished. The property owner appeared at an April 10 public hearing and was giving until June 10, to secure the demolition permit. Kowalewski said a permit has yet to be secured.
He addressed the City Council at its June 23 meeting asking for another show cause hearing as to why the structure should not be demolished in accordance with the law.
The fire was discovered at 2 a.m. by police who coming leaving another incident.
Also headed for a show cause hearing is a structure at 239 Bondie. There were a total of three arsons in the 200 block in March.
Fire Chief Jeff Carley said the activity quieted after three intentionally set fires, all of which fire investigators say are related.
In addition to the 239 Bondie residence, the other two houses sustained significant damage and are going to have to be rebuilt, Carley said.
He said all three of those houses were secure at the time, insured and all were well kept.
“All the fires appear incendiary (intentionally set) and they appear related,” Carley said.
The fires were set with the use of a flammable liquid, but Carley isn’t speculating what that was. The evidence is at the Michigan State Police Crime Lab.
The show cause hearings for both properties are expected in the near future.
(Tereasa Nims can be reached at [email protected].)