Spencer historic group OKs proposed demolition

SPENCER -- As far as the Historic Preservation Commission is concerned, Raymond Bostian's house at 209 S. Rowan Ave. is going down.
After much debate, the board voted 5-1 to OK the demolition if the town board orders it at the Sept. 14 meeting.
Spencer codes enforcement officer Robert Van Geons has declared Bostian's house unfit for human habitation. The estimated cost to bring the two-story home back to code is more than $19,000. Its tax value is around $22,000.
Van Geons said the house has a severe infestation of bats, needs a new roof, has numerous missing or broken windows, needs extensive plumbing repairs and has structural damage in major beams.
The town notified Bostian about four months ago that he had until Aug. 30 to repair the house. He did not attend last night's meeting.
Historic Preservation Commission Chairman Mary O'Donnell said she felt the group did not have enough information to make a decision.
Other board members, including Nick Bishop, Elizabeth Clement, Randy Gettys, Jon Palmer and Roger Pinnix, said they were familiar with the ongoing problems at the house through newspaper articles and town board meetings, as well as Van Geons' documentation of violations.
O'Donnell pushed to table the discussion and work with Bostian, but other members, and Van Geons, said the town has had no success working with Bostian. O'Donnell said she thought it was important to preserve the house, no matter who owns it.
Clement, vice chairman, said the last time a house was demolished, the group wanted to make plans to avoid future demolitions.
"And we haven't done it," she said. "We have egg on our faces."
Several neighbors of the house detailed past problems with the house and said they wanted it torn down.
Bishop moved to approve the demolition, and with Pinnix's second, members OK'd the motion. Only O'Donnell dissented.