A Village of Brockport plan to purchase the abandoned Shaker’s Bar on King Street received what may amount to a death blow last week. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has declined to sign off on the village plan to demolish the decaying structure, stating that the eastern half of the building could have historic significance due to its own features and its proximity to the historic business district. Monroe County owns the building, having foreclosed on it for back taxes. A verbal agreement was struck between the county and village which would enable Brockport to purchase and demolish the building with a grant from the county. All Monroe County required was SHPO approval and the village’s formal grant application. Brockport officials are disappointed with SHPO’s decision; they consider the decaying building a blight on the neighborhood and a safety risk. Part of the roof has collapsed, jeopardizing the police station which is connected to the back of the King Street building. The Brockport Fire Department has been advised not to send firefighters into the building if a fire were to break out. The Village’s engineers determined that the extent of damage is so severe that it would probably be cost prohibitive for any commercial developer to purchase the property. Brockport’s plan was to create a parking lot on the site to help alleviate parking shortages. Mayor Mary Ann Thope said she planned to contact state officials to appeal SHPO’s decision. In other business from the February 5 village board meeting: After accepting the resignation of Louis D. Smith from the Board of Water Commissioners, trustees appointed Vice Mayor James Whipple to fill the vacated seat. Stating that, "I view this as part of my job as a village trustee," Whipple declined to accept the stipend (approximately $2,400 per year) that is paid to Water Commission members. Thorpe said that a second Water Commissioner has announced his intentions to resign later in the year and that that seat would also be filled by a trustee. She also said that Whipple set a precedent by not accepting the stipend. Trustee Mort Wexler, who forced a vote to disband the Board of Water Commissioners a few weeks ago, voted against Whipple’s appointment. Wexler had stated in his motion for disbandment that he believed the power to set water rates should belong to the elected officials – village trustees, not appointed members of a water commission. |
