City councilors agreed the structures should be demolished over the next month.
By Scott Taylor
Staff Writer

LEWISTON – The old South End Social Club at 327 Lisbon St. should come down in mid-January, city councilors agreed Tuesday.

The city agreed to purchase the failing building for $1 at the City Council meeting Tuesday. City Administrator Jim Bennett said the building is one of three Lisbon Street structures the city plans to tear down over the next month. Buildings at 359 and 343 Lisbon St. will also be demolished, Bennett said.

Bricks from 343 Lisbon St. fell from the back left corner of the three-story building on Saturday and crashed onto a nearby nightclub, putting a large hole in the roof.

“The only building we are purchasing tonight is the building at 327 Lisbon St.,” Bennett said. “We have no liability, no ownership, at all in the other two buildings.”

Councilors agreed in June to delay the wrecking ball at the 327 and 359 Lisbon St. buildings. Councilors gave the social club time to move and private developers until mid-October to come up with a preservation plan for 359 Lisbon St.

Bennett said the city hasn’t heard from the developers concerning 359 Lisbon St. since the June meeting. The city plans to demolish it and 343 Lisbon St., and bill the property owners.

The social club moved to 315 Lisbon St. last month and asked the city to purchase the old building. Bennett said that saves the city time and trouble.

“The plan is to do the demolition ourselves and then bill the property owner for work,” Bennett said. “If they don’t settle the bill within 18 months, we can take over the property.”

Buying 327 Lisbon St. lets the city take over now, and possibly get it turned around more quickly.

“I can’t guarantee that they will be redeveloped, but this helps,” Bennett said.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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