Utica orders landlord to tear down deadly fire site

By By JOLEEN FERRIS

Story Created: Oct 13, 2009 at 12:20 PM EDT

Story Updated: Oct 13, 2009 at 5:11 PM EDT

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The city of Utica wants the fire-ravaged building at 102 James Street torn down. A cooking accident sparked the September 20th fire that killed four people. The multi-unit apartment building is still standing, but the roof has collapsed.

Shortly after the fire, the city sent an independent engineering firm to look at the building. They found it was structurally unsound. The city last week put in a demolition order through the courts, ordering owner Timothy Klotz to tear down the building.

"We have to give the owner of the property due process. It's probably going to be a couple of weeks before he either complies, or we tear it down and then he'll pay for it anyway," says City Hall Spokesperson Angelo Roefaro. The standard cost of demolishing a building can range from $10,000-$30,000.

Neither landlord Timothy Klotz nor his attorney have returned our calls regarding his plans for the building, including when and if he plans to tear it down.
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