34 W. State St. in Doylestown Borough in better times, pre-pandemic, in 2019. (Credit: Google Maps Street View)
The future condition of a Doylestown Borough building that has become a significant eyesore in the downtown, and, per the borough, dangerous, due to rusty scaffolding and falling debris, will be decided in district court next month.
Doylestown Borough has been grappling with a deteriorating building at 34 W. State St., which has been vacant since the pandemic, according to the Bucks County Herald. Once home to two restaurants, the three-story brick structure has fallen into disrepair, with debris even falling onto the sidewalk earlier this year.
According to the Herald, a judge will address the various issues at a hearing on Dec. 19, including outstanding fines, the unsightly protective scaffolding, and what steps should be taken to resolve the situation.
The ongoing dispute involves the building's owner, Claudio Roman Jr., of New Jersey, who has been cited by the borough for obstructing the sidewalk with debris and deterioration of the property, per the report.
Roman Jr. claims he is not guilty of the offenses.
Karyn Hyland, the borough’s director of building and zoning, noted that the case has been slow-moving, as legal proceedings often are, but emphasized that action is being taken, per the article.
If Roman is found guilty, the penalty could be as high as $1,000 per day, potentially leading to a fine of $21,000.
According to the report, this particular issue was partially addressed in September when the borough required Roman to install scaffolding, which allowed pedestrians to safely pass by.
However, the more significant problem—the neglected condition of the building itself—could result in fines exceeding $70,000 if not addressed, per the Herald.
Hyland confirmed that the borough plans to file a lawsuit in Bucks County Court of Common Pleas to force Roman to make necessary repairs to the building's façade.
