Norwich to seek demolition of prominent blighted buildings
Jul. 28—NORWICH — The city will order the owners of four prominent, blighted properties to demolish vacant, decaying buildings considered a hazard to public safety.
The building that housed the former Starrwood Market grocery store and other businesses at 20 Norwich Ave. in Taftville and three small houses at 61, 63 and 65 Town St., where a controversial Burger King proposal fell through, all are vacant and blighted. City building and fire officials plan to send the out-of-state owners demolition orders, saying the buildings are safety hazards and blighted.
Starrwood Market closed five years ago, with the store owners citing a leaking roof and other problems not fixed by the building owner. Core Plus Federal Credit Union, a Subway and other small stores closed soon afterward, leaving the entire plaza vacant.
The shopping plaza eventually became the target of vandals and vagrants, who smashed windows and broke through doors. The city ordered it boarded up and welded shut. Grass is growing through cracks in the parking lot, a cable strung across the entrance.
"There was a problem with people going in there and using drugs," Norwich Fire Marshal Capt. Mark Gilot said. "They boarded it up."
On July 10, the city also filed a tax foreclosure lawsuit against Central Houston Holding LLC, of Mineola, N.Y., owner of 20 Norwich Ave. The complaint stated the company owes $23,626 in back taxes, plus interest and fees.
Attorney Thomas Egan of New London, representing Central Houston Holding in the foreclosure suit, was not available Friday for comment on the pending tax foreclosure or the city's plan to order demolition.
Norwich Building Official Dan Coley said the city also is considering issuing blight fines against the owner.
Burger King plan expired; vacant houses blighted
Separately, city officials plan to send a demolition order to the owner of three vacant houses at 61, 63 and 65 Town St., where a developer had received approval in October 2018 to tear down the houses and build a Burger King.
The property abuts the historic Norwichtown cemetery. Historic preservation advocates and Norwichtown residents protested the Burger King project, saying the construction would disturb burial sites just a few feet from the property border. The Norwich Historical Society had reached an agreement with the Burger King developer that it would take measures to protect the graveyard.
The Burger King project first was delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic and then the development company, Amaral Revite Corp., went bankrupt, city officials said.
Deanna Rhodes, director of Planning and Neighborhood Services, said the Burger King plan expired after five years, in October 2023.
Building Official Coley added that the group's demolition permit for the three houses also has expired.
A security fence surrounding the three houses and their overgrown lots now is covered with vines. A small garage behind one house is open. Coley said at one point, a portion of the security fence was knocked down. City officials asked the owners to secure the property, and that was done. He said there are no signs people are living in the houses.
Rhodes has contacted a representative of the ownership group, All State BK Real Estate Holdings, of 4415 Highway 6, Sugarland, Texas.
In March, Joan M. Dumont, asset manager for Dhanani Group Inc., wrote to Rhodes:
"The intent is to sell or lease the property," Dumont wrote to the city. "The broker is requesting anything available to put together marketing materials for the property. Any assistance that you can provide is greatly appreciated."
Dumont was not available this past week for comment on the city's plan to issue a demolition order on the houses.
