ICCD 2018

[PFMcFarland]

Thanks, all.

It's hard to say what the circumstances are surrounding the Maple Lodge, Alex. There could be some legal issues involved, such as happens when there is more than one owner of the property. Some towns have different distinctions for what type of property this qualifies as, and as such might not have restrictive building codes applied. It may also be unclear who the property owner is, and thus the regulating authority has no one to go after. The town may also not have the funds to enforce any code violations, and as long as the place is not an immediate fire hazard (i.e. it is not occupied by vagrants, or actively being vandalized, and the utilities have been disconnected), prefer to just let the matter lay as it is.

I've seen structures in such shape brought back to life, but the mere size of this one would give pause to anyone considering such a project. The removal of lead based paints would be cost prohibitive all by itself. Then there is the matter of the brick foundation, the failing floor joists, replacing all the piping and electrical wiring, installing fire suppression systems (water sprinklers), and on, and on, and on. By the time you got finished turning it back into a place of respite from the road, the nightly bill would be as much as a four star hotel in New York City. Also remember, it sits across the street from a slew of half empty factory buildings. Unfortunately this is just one such building in a town struggling to stay alive as more and more jobs go somewhere else, or disappear into thin air.

So I would say the place is a goner, unless one could get a guaranteed low cost loan from the Federal Government to go in and slap-dash it back to life with some dubious low-quality below cost work, while pocketing the rest of the money. That's the American Way!

PF