Talk of the town

Posted on June 13, 2014

At passing glance, there would appear to be a new storefront in downtown Perry. However, a closer look reveals the “storefront” to be nothing more than a facade painted on a tarp covering the front of a dilapidated building on Green Street.

The City of Perry’s intent in installing the facade was twofold, City Manager Bob Brown said. “First, it abates the issue the owner has regarding non-compliance with the city’s downtown appearance ordinance and, more importantly, it acts as a safeguard for any falling glass due to the fact that the framework for the front windows is not in good condition.”

The building was declared unsafe several years ago and fines continue to accrue against the property. The cost of the facade–which is fastened to a wood frame nailed to the adjoining buildings (with the property owners’ permission)–was charged to the property owner. City officials said there have been on-going issues with the property owner’s response to repeated code enforcement violation citations.

Subscribe to our e-Edition and read the rest of the story. Already a subscriber? Click here to sign in.