Asbestos halts demolition of abandoned buildings

FRANKLIN — Franklin ran into a major roadblock in its attempt to remove two blighted properties from the Route 23 corridor as a

In the inspection of the Franklin Ski Shop and adjoining house, Mayor Paul Crowley announced the buildings were "loaded with asbestos."

When the project was initially brought up in February, borough officials hoped the demolition would be straightforward, some council members even suggesting it be handled “in house” by Department of Public Works employees. While that suggestion had been ruled out right away, officials still hoped for a simple, cost-effective solution.

Now the project is proving to be anything but.

“What we thought was a fairly minor project has turned into a more costly endeavor,” Crowley said. While he still hopes to move forward with the demolition as he sees the two buildings as “eyesores that are really detracting from the town,” he said the removal of the asbestos could cost about $80,000.

One possible solution to rectify the costs involved is to put a tax lien on the property after the buildings are removed, Crowley said. That way, the borough could recoup its expenses in the first few years the properties are back on the tax rolls.

The next step of the process is to solicit bids for project, which the borough engineer is working on. Once bids are returned, the council will revisit the situation and decide if the demolition is worth the investment.