North Avenue District Needs a Well Check

A large number of contractors met with city officials on North Avenue Monday to examine the fire-damaged building that is now in need of demolition. The City Council will have to authorize an emergency appropriation to fund the demolition. Engineer Wendell Bibbs of Remington & Vernick can be seen here addressing the group.

On Tuesday, workers began removing utility connections in preparation for the demolition.

North Avenue between Park and Watchung avenues is still closed to traffic.

 This is not the newly damaged building, it is the old Mirons furniture warehouse on the same block that is in the process of being converted to residential units with a restaurant on the ground floor. This view is from the alley alongside the west wall of the building.

These buildings are part of the North Avenue Historic District, as was one that was demolished in March due to falling bricks that indicated imminent collapse. In all truth, the Mirons warehouse has missing bricks and looks none too sturdy close up. Bricks are missing at its skyline and the same is true of other buildings in the district.

It has been a long time now since the designation of this district by the main train station. In 2012, plans are expected to advance for transit-oriented development. Plaintalker suggests a realistic assessment of all the buildings in the district, both contributing and non-contributing, and a report on their status.

 The back alley of the block where the fire broke out reveals this small building's wide-open rear facade, with gaping cellar doors and another open door behind the Dumpster. Squatters or metal scavengers have full access to the interior and may have already stripped it.

The fire that broke out early Saturday is deemed suspicious and is under investigation by the Union County Arson Squad, Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig told the City Council Monday. One look at this block's rotten core will confirm that lots of suspicious behavior has taken place back there. Why not evaluate the district as a whole for viability and take some proactive steps toward stabilization before the next "emergency" forces a costly response?

--Bernice