LEWISTON – Lewiston is getting aggressive with tenement owners, city officials said Tuesday.

Councilors are demanding that Steven Wheeler, owner of 343 Lisbon St., repair the failing four-story building or have the city tear it down and charge him the difference. According to City Administrator Jim Bennett, Wheeler or mortgage-holder Atlantic Mortgage Trust, LLC, has until June 6 to begin repairs or the building comes down.

And Bennett promised there would be more.

“I know of no less than 12 other properties that will be coming before you for similar action in the next six months to a year,” Bennett said. “This is a new aggressive policy, and the message to building owners is to repair their properties now.”

Councilors first heard from city attorney Dave Pierson and the city code enforcement staff about the state of the building, next door to The Big D on Lisbon Street.

Building Inspector Gary Campbell said the building was last home to a soup kitchen in 1990. Since then, Wheeler has given up on the building.

“He neither improves or maintains the property,” Campbell said. “He has stopped paying taxes on the property and has surrendered his keys to the mortgage holder.”

Deputy Development Director Gil Arsenault said the mortgage company has continued to pay taxes but has stopped short of foreclosing on the property. In the meantime, roof leaks have ruined the structure of the building. It’s valued at $38,000 but would cost several times that to repair.

“I think it might be cheaper to build a new building there,” Arsenault said.

Councilors agreed, declaring the building unsafe and giving owners a month to begin repairs.

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