City Of Concord Budgets $35K To Demolish South Main Street House

CONCORD, NH — The Concord City Council approved funds to demolish a private home on South Main Street on Monday.

The vote to spend $34,600 to demolish 107-109 S. Main St. was unanimous.

Issues with the property date back to 2016 when code enforcement posted an “uninhabitable” notice on the building due to it being a “hazard” in the city’s eyes. Carlos Baia, the deputy city manager for development, said “despite multiple efforts by city staff” to have the owner, Comain LLC, “rectify the situation,” the site continued to be hazardous.

In July 2021, the council adopted a resolution to give the owner 30 days to demolish the building and remove all materials and debris from the property. The owner, however, failed to act, he said.

The council, in June, budgeted $32,100 to demolish the building and remove the debris and materials, but a ruling on the act by the city was held up in Merrimack County Superior Court until after the end of fiscal year 2022. A motion for judgment was made to the city on June 30.

The contractor who agreed to do the work for the city, however, saw their costs increase, requiring more money. Since the expenditure was taking place in the new fiscal year, a revote needed to take place. That revote was unanimous on Monday.

No one spoke during the public hearing phase of the meeting.

The only councilor to speak about the situation was Jennifer Kretovic of Ward 3, who uttered a single word: “Hallelujah.”

It is unknown when the demolition and removal will take place.

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