Boro demands fix-ups at abandoned building
Spotswood began issuing fines against owner in November
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

MIGUEL JUAREZ staff The old Asbury Fuel building on Snowhill Street in Spotswood has been the subject of unanswered code violations.

What is referred to in Spotswood as the old Asbury Fuel building is in violation of borough codes, and officials want it repaired or torn down.

The building, at 47 Snowhill St., was home to the Asbury Fuel Co. and other businesses over the years but has fallen into disrepair, and borough officials are trying to get the owner to do something about it.

During a March 19 Borough Council meeting, Business Administrator Ronald Fasanello said the town's building inspector has sought to have the owner of the property make repairs, to no avail.

The borough last year notified the owner, Evangelos Dimitrakopoulos, of Edison, that he had to either make the necessary repairs or demolish the building, but the town did not receive an answer, Fasanello told the Sentinel. A summons was then issued that included a $2,000 penalty for failure to make repairs, but this also garnered no response.

In November, the borough began assessing a $500-per-week fine until repairs are completed, Fasanello said. Those fines continue to accrue.

Since the owner has still not responded, the borough recently issued a summons for him to appear in municipal court so that the court can resolve the issue. The court date is next month, Fasanello said.

"The borough will proceed against any property owner, as necessary, to ensure that the owner complies with all local and state requirements," Fasanello said.

The building, located near the Papa Joe's pizza restaurant, was the scene of a recent accident when a Conrail train struck a car at the railroad crossing, sending the car into the building and leaving a hole. There were no serious injuries in the accident.

Councilwoman Marge Drozd said she cannot understand how the building has been allowed to fall into such disrepair.

"I am mystified as to how it's been able to subsist and be rented out," she said. "Now its got a hole from the train [accident]."

In addition to being used by the Asbury Fuel Co., the building has been rented out to a plumbing company and a craft store. The one-story, 25-by-40-foot building was most recently used by a landscaping service, Fasanello said, but the building has been abandoned in recent memory.

"It's been an eyesore for a number of years," he said.

Mayor Barry Zagnit said the current owner purchased the property in recent years and began to clean up ground contamination on the site, but at some point left the land in its excavated state and fenced it in. He speculated that the cleanup process may have become too costly for the owner.

Nonetheless, property owners are responsible to maintain their properties and not let them fall into disrepair.

"The reason we're doing this is that this land owner has ignored everything our inspector has required of him," Zagnit said.

Drozd said she feels that the owner has been taking advantage of the borough's good will in trying to address the issue.

"How irresponsible for him to not respond to the town's concerns. He deserves every fine he's gotten, and he will continue to get them until he remedies the situation," she said.