34 W. State St. in Doylestown Borough in better times, pre-pandemic, in 2019. (Credit: Google Maps Street View)
Doylestown Borough has reached a settlement with Claudio Roman, Jr., the owner of a deteriorating property at 34 W. State St. after numerous citations and fines, according to the Bucks County Herald.
The building, located in the town center, had faced significant safety concerns, leading to fines totaling more than $60,000. The settlement, approved by Judge Mark Douple, outlines that Roman has "substantially completed" the necessary repairs required by the borough, and in return, he will pay a reduced fine of $10,000 after pleading guilty to 40 violations of construction codes, according to the report.
Roman had been under pressure since last June when parts of the building's window frame fell onto the street.
The situation worsened as months of negotiation led to the placement of fencing and traffic cones to protect pedestrians, followed by the installation of scaffolding, according to the article. The scaffolding, which has been in place for several months, was removed Monday as part of the settlement terms.
In addition to the scaffolding removal, Roman must also complete other repairs. These include cleaning the building's exterior by March 31 and installing flashing around the structure once the scaffolding is gone, per the report.
Doylestown Building and Zoning Director Karyn Hyland expressed satisfaction with the settlement's conditions, believing it strikes a balance between penalizing the property owner and allowing the necessary repairs to continue.
The agreement reflects a compromise, where the borough has a stronger position for future enforcement if needed, according to the article.
Hyland said that the reduced fine was reasonable and would not hinder the owner’s ability to complete the required work. If Roman adheres to the settlement's conditions, the building will be restored, ensuring the safety and aesthetics of the town center.
You can read the full article here.
