ATLAS - A local property owner ordered by the court to demolish two of his dilapidated buildings in Mount Carmel has begun to tear down a long-time eyesore in this village.
Mount Carmel Township Code Enforcement Officer Don Geary said the condition of 489 Girard St. is the worst in the township. The two-story building had partially collapsed at least twice, which caused the walls to bow and expose the second-floor bathroom.
The owner, Chris Elsayed, of 201 E. Sunbury St., Shamokin, started tearing down the Atlas building the week of Oct. 8, but not before being charged in 2010 by Geary with public nuisance, a misdemeanor offense, because the building posed a risk to pedestrians and motorists on Route 61 who travel just feet from the building. Elsayed was represented by the late Jim Rosini during a preliminary hearing in front of Hugh A. Jones, who bound the case to court.
Geary said the case was continued because of the death of Rosini, who died from injuries sustained in a vehicular accident in Florida on Feb. 8, 2012. Elsayed is now represented by Paige Rosini.
Elsayed purchased the building at a Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau Upset Sale in 2009. He paid $1,228.64, plus $312.44 in related fees. According to News-Item archives, the building's main roof had already partially collapsed when the building was offered for sale.
"We were only able to see the outside of the structure and not allowed to go inside," Elsayed said Friday. "That's the situation when you buy stuff on tax sale."
Mt. Carmel issues
In a separate case, Elsayed was charged earlier this year by Mount Carmel Code Enforcement Officer Robin Williams with 35 citations related to conditions of 49-51 S. Walnut St., and 51 S. Locust St., located a block apart.
Elsayed pleaded guilty to all but one charge on July 31 in a hearing before Jones. He was ordered to tear down the structures before the date of the hearing on the remaining citation.
"Once he received the initial citation, our ordinance states that each day the violation is not fixed constitutes a separate violation, and that's what I was doing," Williams said. "There were (Mount Carmel Area School District) bus stops there and students were sitting on the steps of those buildings. I put some pressure on him for this one."
Williams said the district moved the stops after he notified officials of the hazards.
Elsayed has obtained permits to tear down the buildings, but is having trouble obtaining insurance because of their condition, Williams said Friday. He said Elsayed will have to seek an insurance bond.
"He is ordered to bring them down or he is going to do jail time," Williams said.
'Good intentions'
Geary said Elsayed failed to remedy issues with the property in Atlas following the tax sale purchase.
"After accepting my position in June 2010, the first thing I did was arrest Chris (Elsayed) and charge him with a public nuisance," Geary said. "He had time to demolish or bring his property up to code."
Only portions of the first and second floor at the Girard Street home remained Friday. A Dumpster in front of the building was nearly full of building materials. A sign reading "properties available" was visible from Route 61.
"I purchased those (properties) with good intentions," Elsayed said. "I am doing whatever it takes to make everyone happy as long as it's in my means. That's my main focus."
Elsayed said he does not have any plans for the properties once they are demolished, but said he would entertain offers for purchase.
"Elsayed is not under any order to tear down the property in Atlas," Geary said. "But he knows it is a losing battle."The building at 489 Girard St., Atlas, seen here this week, is being demolished by the owner. The building has partially collapsed at least twice over they years.