Remediation Work On Former Macy's In Enfield Square Nears Completion

ENFIELD, CT — Demolition work is underway on a portion of the former Macy's building at the Enfield Square, following repeated unsuccessful attempts by town officials to get the property owner to remediate a section of the structure which had collapsed in mid-April.

The second-story portion of the southern side of the store, which formerly housed outdoor furniture before closing in early 2016, had collapsed into the first floor ceiling, rendering the fire suppression service inoperable. This safety and fire code violation causes great risk that the wall over the entrance, now not grounded into a floor, could topple onto the sidewalk, according to a memo from town manager Ellen Zoppo-Sassu.

"The lack of a fire alarm and suppression service within the former Macy’s meant that the rest of the mall was at risk if a fire broke out in this area, the rest of the mall would not have any notification via an alarm being triggered," Zoppo-Sassu wrote.

Citing no response from the mall owner, Namdar Realty Group, chief building official Ray Steadward invoked emergency powers, and a firewall is being constructed to cordon off the space from the rest of the mall. The town will have a lien placed upon the property in order to recoup the $44,000 invested in the remediation, Mayor Bob Cressotti said.

"Once the town is made aware of a risk, the town holds a portion of the liability if something were to happen," Zoppo-Sassu wrote.

The mall opened in 1972, but has been largely vacant for the past several years.