Demolition has begun at a partially collapsed building in Canastota
/ photo by Jessica Cain
CANASTOTA -- Demolition has started on a building that partially collapsed over the weekend.
Canastota Mayor Todd Rouse says the building on Center Street has been vacant for at least 25 years, so it has not been inspected in decades. Rouse says inspections are not legally required for vacant buildings. He says village officials tried to keep an eye on the building, but they weren't any obvious signs something was wrong.
"Just looking at the structure, you would have never thought it would fall," says Rouse.
Village trustee Ann Marie Rossi says she had noticed there were bricks on the ground near the building recently, but she never thought it was on the verge of collapse.
"It just happened," says Rossi. "It happened out of the blue. The building decided to crumble. I don't think there was anything particular that set it off."
The building was bought a few years ago. The new owner, a man from New York city, was considering renovating it. Crews have been inside the building recently, but they were not there at the time of the collapse on Sunday.
No one was injured in the collapse, but people who were nearby were alarmed.
"It was loud," says Sherry Winchell, who lives in Canastota. "It sounded like a bomb went off."
The Village of Canastota is responsible for demolishing the building. Mayor Rouse says enough of the building should be torn down by now that the area will be fairly safe. However, the public is still asked to stay away from the area.
The building's owner will be here later this week. The owner will assume the debt from the village to cover the cost of knocking down the building.
As for the the inspection regulations, Mayor Rouse says that may be something the village will review in the future.
"If it would enhance public safety, I think the answer would be yes," says Rouse. "Otherwise, I think the codes are proper."
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