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photo by David Richards
Travis Attleson of Bustad Excavating arrives on scene of the businesses destoyed by the downtown fire this past winter. Cleanup of the site began Monday.
Cleanup begins at fire site
Published Tuesday, April 28, 2009
That’s Sam Nguyen starting the North Main Street clean-up — not the City of Austin.
One fire-damaged building instead of six is being mercifully erased from the North Main Street cityscape.
On Monday, a Bustad Excavating crew started preparing to clean-up debris from the Jan. 15 fire, and it caused a flurry of excitement from downtowners eager to see the mess gone.
Austin Fire Chief Dan Wilson assisted the contractor in gaining access to a fire hydrant to water the site when the actual demolition work begins today, and debris is hauled away. That will be necessary to eliminate the dust from the air as much as possible.
The site of one business-owner cleaning up one business site was encouraging to all.
“I got the city’s permission to clean up my building,” said Nguyen, co-owner of the family-owned Top Ten Nails business. “I’m paying for it. I’m not getting any help. I’m having it done myself.”
The Top Ten Nails business was re-located to 507 First St. N.W. after being one of the 400 block of North Main Street victims of the devastating fire.
Arson is believed to be the cause of the blaze, and the investigation is continuing, according to Wilson.
The Jan. 15 fire occurred on a brutal Thursday afternoon, when temperatures plunged below zero.
Passersby told authorities they heard an explosion near 3:45 p.m. Jan. 15.
A family living in an apartment above the Mia Tierra restaurant, grocery store, money transfer and other businesses near the Downtown Plaza (Third Avenue Northeast) intersection escaped injuries.
Firefighters from Austin, Albert Lea, Blooming Prairie, Brownsdale and Rose Creek battled the blaze overnight.
Maria Leon, owner of the properties at 400-406 North Main St., has received official notice from the city that her properties have been declared a health hazard and must be cleaned up.
However, the prospect that the cleanup could take 60 days or more has frustrated business-owners on the west side of North Main Street.
They’re the ones who look out their store windows at the sight, withstand constant inquires from customers who wonder why it is taking so long to clean up the hazard and independent business operators who have lost customer parking on the east side of North Main Street.
“It’s frustrating for all of us,” said Jim Hurm, city administrator, “We all want something to be done soon.”
No further action from the Austin City Council is expected until their next meeting, May 4, when they are slated to review cost estimates for the cleanup.
Sandy Bell, owner of Twice Is Nice, one of the businesses on the west side of North Main Street, has been among the vocal critics of the city’s inaction.
“I’m still frustrated,” Bell said of the situation Monday. “They’re going to take up a lot of parking spaces when they do all the demolition and clean up work.
“It’s going to clog up Main Street all summer if they only do one building a week at a time,” she said. “I think the city and the property owners have to get together, make it the top priority and get it done immediately.
“North Main Street is the heart of downtown Austin,” she said. “For safety’s sake and the beauty, they need to get it done.”
According to Bell, the Austin Main Street Project has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in restoring store fronts along North Main Street. Next door to her Twice Is Nice business is one of the Austin Main Street Project sites: The new location of Steve’s Pizza.
“What does this show?” Bell gestured across the street at the damaged buildings. “It doesn’t show much concern for Main Street.”
According to Bell, 25 to 50 people, who visit her store daily, bring up the unsightly mess across North Main Street. “They ask me ‘Why hasn’t the city cleaned it up? How can they leave it like that?” she said.
Bell said she has seen people climb into the shells of the businesses to stand atop the rubble and have their picture taken.
“Do they want to spend a $100,000 now to clean it up or do they want to spend hundreds more on law suits?” she said.
Bell and her store employees called the Austin Police Department recently, when they saw a man stop in front of one of the abandoned businesses “look around and then dash inside.”
Sandy Forstner, executive director of the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce, is also growing impatient.
Despite Nguyen’s initiative, Forstner said more has to be done and quickly.
“I’m glad to see something started,” Forstner said of Nguyen’s action. “I hope the other property owners will also get busy and take action with the city’s help.”
Forstner is caught in the middle: Merchants like Bell complaint to him and he, in turn, complains to the city.
Steve Davis, co-owner with his wife, Angie, of the Steve’s Pizza restaurant along North Main Street, where the former Granle’s Custom Framing and Art Gallery business was located, said Nguyen’s action caused him to be hopeful.
“Hopefully, they will get all of the buildings will be cleaned up and hopefully something attractive will be built there,” Davis said. “I think it could be a nice place for parking or, hopefully, new businesses.”
Also sounding hopeful was Bonnie Mogen, retired owner of the business that bears her name, Bonnie’s Hallmark, next door to Twice Is Nice.
She said the excitement at finally seeing some clean-up action begun “overwhelmed me.”
Mogen said customers at the b business now owned by her daughter, Cindy Smith, “bring it up all the time,” when they shop at Bonnie’s Hallmark and see the fire damage across the street.
“I try to put a positive slant on it,” she said. “Because of all the issues that are involved.”
Mogen said she gave the Austin City Council credit for “unanimously voting for the city’s responsibility.”
“I do give them credit, and I do thank them for that,” Mogen said.
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Comments
Posted by Aletheia_Kratos (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder why the article didn't identify exactly what the city is supposed to do that they are not already doing. It gives the impression that there are things the city should and could be doing right this minute.
Articles like this do little good to educate the public about the issues. What would do some good is an article that actually looked into what the city's options are and what the city is actually doing to pursue those options. Then we could judge whether they are doing their jobs or just sitting around.
From what I have read and been told, the properties are owned by the individual land owners (not the city) and the individual land owners have to clean up their own messes. Thank you Mr. Nguyen and Marty's Hobby for starting on your properties. The rest of the properties are tied up in the arson investigation so there is no expectation that the land owner will have the money to clean it up. As a result, the city must act to move toward cleaning them up.
There is a process that must be followed for the city to do such a thing, and the city is in the process of moving that effort forward. To suggest that the city is not doing what it should be doing displays a total ignorance of the process and where the city is in that process. Did Mr. Bonorden ask what the city was doing? Did the people being interviewed for the story ask the city what is was doing? Did anyone bother to find out the process?
I have said here before, if anyone has a useful suggestion they should come forward. As Mr. Hurm said in this article, “It’s frustrating for all of us, we all want something to be done soon.” I am sure the city would love to hear ways of getting the clean up done faster - but still within the requirements of the law.
Perhaps Mr. Bonorden has a suggestion. Perhaps Sandy Bell has a suggestion. Perhaps Sandy Forstner has a suggestion. Perhaps you have a suggestion. If not, then sitting around whining is not very constructive. Let the city pursue their legal processes and do the best they can under admittedly bad circumstances.
Posted by bigPERM (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
here is my suggestion:
There has got to be a Excavating service in town that is willing to help. have them do it for free? no, have a "Clean up North Main" donation jars around town. My take on it, people are going to complain it is not getting cleaned up, then once the city does step in, they are going to complain that our taxes increased because of it. it is pretty obvious the owners are not going to step up and take care of it. So i feel, the people who are getting sick of looking at it (i am one of them) lets dish out some pennies and dimes and pitch in on our own terms.
Posted by formeraustinian (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
AK - since you have all the answers and questions - why don't you become a reporter for the Herald and then you can tell them, in your ever so generic-never-give-any- worthwhile-info way, what to do and how to do it!! Then we can all learn everything, generically speaking, that you do! It's a mess, peoples don't like it and have every right to WHINE. Please post something meaningful!!! I truly get tired of seeing your lengthy posts with nothing!!!
Posted by Aletheia_Kratos (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Used to Be-
Perhaps you missed my suggestion in your rush to bad mouth me. I suggest that the city continue on it's present course and get the job done. Of course I do like bigPERM's idea of the whiners paying for the clean up out of their pockets. That would be faster.
It is sad to know that you are more comfortable with whining without suggestions than you are with looking for solutions. I prefer to look for solutions. If that makes you tired then there really us not much for me to do.
FYI - Today's editorial acknowledges that the city is moving forward.
Posted by Rhino (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
formeraustinian.... meaning you do not live here any more. Mind your own business. Whats it matter to you? you dont live here. Its not your concern. Kratos and I do live here, its our concerns and others that LIVE here. Ok? Or do you need to see some sign langauge?
Posted by justsayin (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hats off to Sam and his family for wanting to clean up the mess when they weren't even the business owners at fault. It's really too bad the funds have to come out of their own pockets. I'm sure the price tag isn't cheap. They deserve some sort of financial assistance, how much more can honest business people afford to try and clean up and restore what they have lost? They are great people who run an excellent business. Shame on Maria for the disaster her business has caused the downtown and not taking any initiative to start the clean up process.
Posted by astates (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
its about time !
Posted by formeraustinian (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rhino - It's none of your business where I live. And yes, things in Austin do matter to me. I still have family and friends in Austin. Just because I may not live in Austin doesn't mean that I don't still have an interest. For all you know, I still own property there - so - sit on it! I have just as much right as AK and even your right wing junk to take up space on this website. I just get tired of the pontificating by you, Ak and several others(all right-wingers I might add) that think you have all the world's knowledge. When in fact, you live in this small oh so tiny world that doesn't have a clue what it's like in the real world! I can only imagine what your "sign language" would be - what a joke!!
Posted by ALYLESTUD (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hootch Hanson?
Posted by AUSTINPEACE (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe one day I will become a left-winger and I will also have access to all the worlds knowledge and I too will know what the real world is like! Oh never mind.....what was I thinking? Left-wingers thinking they have all of the knowledge in the world is why America is going where it is going! The founding fathers are turning in their graves! What the left-wingers are doing right now is going against our constitution, To not support our constitution is UN-American!
Posted by bigPERM (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
this went from "clean up has begins" to "why our country is messed up"...something tells me we are a touch off subject.
Posted by bigPERM (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
put the torch down....I mean, "Clean up begins"
Posted by Aletheia_Kratos (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 5:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not sure why I am a right winger. Perhaps it is cause I have an opinion about our President that is less than stellar. I share that opinion with a great deal of democrates who worry that they went too far and did things in the first few months of this year that will have long term implications for our economy. So, if being a left winger means drinking the coolaide even when you know that it is poison and being a right winger means that you exercise independent judgment. Then count me in.
Justsayin - Sam and his family deserve to be praised but the money he is spending is his insurance money. He does not need, nor has he asked for, any subsidies. He is using his insurance money for the exact purpose it is intended.
I think your comments about Maria are well placed. She should be down there cleaning up as well. Unfortunately it does not appear that she has any insurance money or money in her own pockets to do that.
Posted by Rhino (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 8:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
formeraustinian... i really dont care where you live. Don't beat on people and there opinions. Kratos gave his and you beat on him. You gave yours and I beat on you. How are you any better? Right wing??? Left wing??? In my book there is no "wing. You are either American or your not! So as Paul Harvey has said, "And thats the rest of the story, Good Day!"
Posted by leftys2221 (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 8:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
AK you are right. I mean his approval rating is only 68%. And 72% of people are optimistic about the future now.
Posted by AUSTINPEACE (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 9:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lefty.......according to CNN today his approval rating is 62%. At the same point in Bush's term he had an approval rating of 64%! We all know how that turned out!
Posted by AUSTINPEACE (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sorry...disregard my last post! I misread. CNN does have it at 68% and at the same point Bush was at 62%. It doesn't change though....62% is still pretty good and we know how that turned out!
Posted by cooper (anonymous) on April 28, 2009 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How did this go from clean up begins to the approval rating of the President? It just nice to see something starting to happen with the clean up. Hats off to Mr. Nguyen I hope that he does very well in his new location. Question for AK you seem to have a majority of the answers to this problem, why didn't Marie have insurance, I thought that it was required by law. Honestly don't know, or anyone else that could help me out here thanks.
Posted by Littletoad (anonymous) on April 29, 2009 at 1:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Justsayin.....I couldn't disagree more with your comment about financial assistance for the cleanup. You seem to be applying a Wall Street mentality of "privatizing the profit" yet "socializing the cost" in this case...and we all know how unpopular that is with the public. If the "business owner" takes it upon himself to clean up a "business site" owned by someone else, so be it, but why should the public assist in this endeavor. (Please note: I'm assuming the business owner is not the land/building owner in this case!) To offer public assistance in this case would be nothing short of a TAX on the public to assist in a PRIVATE matter.
Hey, as I stated in a prior post regarding another article on this issue.....just leave it as is!!!! Give it enough time and it may gain historical significance....such as the "Great Chicago fire" or the "Burning of Rome".....now wouldn't that be a "feather" in Austin's hat....can't you all hear the pitter patter of the tourist footsteps with the jingling of their dollars hitting the cash registers of Austin merchants!!! In fact, I suggest that as a PROMO....the leaders of Austin should have several thousand Post Cards made up to be sold in area businesses depicting the "Great Ruins of Austin"! Why is it that I gotta do all the creative thinking for you guys and gals....????
Remember, your best friend is a toad!
Sincerely,
Littletoad
Posted by Littletoad (anonymous) on April 29, 2009 at 1:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
AK....Your orginal post I thought was well thought out and written!
LittleToad
Posted by Aletheia_Kratos (anonymous) on April 29, 2009 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cooper - Leon had insurance. There is no law requiring insurance. The insurance will not pay because it was arson.
Lefty - check out the polling data on the stimulus and the bailouts. They are less rosy and more skeptical. Since I have only commented on economic decisions that may be what I was referring to. Many Dems have expressed concerns about those plans as well. But keep drinking the cool aide. I am not here to stop you.
Posted by cooper (anonymous) on April 29, 2009 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
AK thanks.
Posted by formeraustinian (anonymous) on April 29, 2009 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rhino - I think you need to go back to 6th grade English class and learn how to spell, oh no excuse me, you spelled it correctly - you just used the wrong word... "Don't beat on people and there opinions" - it should be "their" opinions. As far as "beating down" - you are the one that said I don't have a say since I don't live there, now you don't care. Also, don't assume I'm male.
AK - Kool-aid is spelled with a K, a hyphen and no E. Oh and it's Democrat not Democrate - since you're obviously with the R group, you probably wouldn't know that!
Posted by Rhino (anonymous) on April 29, 2009 at 10:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
formeraustinian.... so you are like my 17 year old daughter. reads thing but doesnt really know what she read? read it again, think about it this time.
Posted by formeraustinian (anonymous) on April 29, 2009 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sorry Rhino, but I think you need to listen to your 17 year old daughter. At least she knows what word to use. I reread your statements and unless you change the word, it doesn't make sense! You think about it - get your verbage right! It would be nice if your punctuation was accurate too, but I'm sure that's way over your head!! Go back to school, this time learn something!
Posted by factorfiction (anonymous) on April 29, 2009 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ahem, time out people!
I'm glad Top Ten Nails is starting the clean up process. Whether it be insurance money (I don't remember reading that anywhere?) or money out of his own pocket, doesn't matter. The clean up has FINALLY started!
Posted by Aletheia_Kratos (anonymous) on April 29, 2009 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I sometimes wonder if it would be more productive to discuss things at Formeraustinian's level. But to do so would require retorts like "I know you are but what am I" and "Rubber and Glue" and things like that. Never address the merits but always go with the childish response.
Thanks for pulling us all out of that spiral into absurdity Former called dialog and returning us to the discussion at hand. Top Ten is doing the right thing. He is using insurance and he would be the first to confirm that for you. And we should all be very happy that the healing of Main Street is starting.
Of interest, fires in other communities have sat for longer than ours has. When it is in your front yard it seems like forever and a day. But in the bigger picture 100 days is not a long time to clear an arson investigation, have owners process their insurance claims, get necessary permits and approvals from state agencies, and hire contractors.
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