LEWISTON – Developers got 90 more days to come up with a plan to repair a dilapidated building at 359 Lisbon St.

But councilors said their patience with the building owner, Klister LLC, was wearing thin. The company has until October to make serious changes in the building, otherwise, it needs to come down.

“I think it’s time to bring it down, now,” said Councilor Marc Mason. “I don’t even see the point of giving them another 90 days.”

Councilors first discussed demolishing the property at their June 17 meeting. All three floors of the building have been abandoned for years, according to city staff, and the building is dangerous.

Richard Trafton, lawyer for Klister LLC, said the company was trying to sell the property in a bid to save it. Councilors agreed to delay their decision until Tuesday to give Klister more time.

“Frankly, I hoped we’d have seen more,” said Mayor Larry Raymond Tuesday. Raymond said he was disappointed that the owner was not farther along in the plans to fix the building.

Tuesday, Trafton said the owner had reached an agreement with a buyer but did not have a signed contract that would settle on the price and the work Klister needs to do to the building before the sale.

Trafton said he expected the company could have a solid financial plan in place with specific engineering plans for the rehab by Oct. 16.

“But it may not be possible to complete any work by that date,” Trafton said. “In fact, it’s highly unlikely to happen that way.”

Councilors should authorize city staff to approve financing and design plans when they are ready, Trafton said.

“We do believe that this structure can be saved,” he said.

City Administrator Jim Bennett agreed, but said the plans should be extensive.

“If you can submit reasonable plan, well thought out plans, then this condemnation order can go away,” Bennett said. “It’s not them saying they want to fix it up, and hey, they’ve talked to contractors A, B and C and they have plans drawn on a bar napkin.”

Councilors agreed, voting 4-2 to set condemnation after Oct. 16. Councilors Mason and Renee Bernier both voted against the order, saying they wanted to see the building come down sooner.

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