Ellsworth & Son Excavating In The News

House demolished, owners billed
By CHARLES FIEGL
cfiegl@poststar.com
Published: Wednesday, January 30, 2008
www.poststar.com

The town of Bolton had Ellsworth and Son Excavating Inc. demolish the home of Walter and Barbara Law this week. The Laws moved out several years ago and the home fell into a state of disrepair.

BOLTON -- The town of Bolton razed a home this week on Lake George belonging to Glens Falls attorney Walter Law and his wife after deeming it was unsafe.

The town hired a demolition crew to knock down the 4274 Lakeshore Drive home, which was in the name of Law's wife, Barbara Law.

The town will bill the Laws for the expense, which is estimated at $15,000, Bolton Supervisor Kathleen Simmes said.

Walter Law said he and his wife had moved out of the home several years ago.

He did not want to answer questions during an interview about why the home fell into a state of disrepair, but he said he and his wife had tried to find a company to demolish the home for the last year-and-a-half.

"We were unable to find anybody who would take it down at any price close to that ($15,000)," Law said.

The town took the Laws, who now live in Glens Falls, to court in October.

The town and Nace Engineering of Queensbury had inspected the property in July after numerous complaints about neglect were made by neighbors.

Town Zoning Enforcement Officer Mitzi Nittmann and engineer Thomas Nace observed five structures on the property -- a main house, three cabins and a shed -- as well as two abandoned cars, according to documents filed in state Supreme Court.

A portion of the house's roof had collapsed, and water had soaked the interior. The east wing of the home was in danger of collapse, and half of the porch on the south side had fallen down.

"There were critters and garbage everywhere," Nittmann said.

The three cabins and the shed had also been neglected and needed attention, Nace reported to the town.

Neighbors have been upset with the condition of the home and deemed it an eyesore.

"A man of his stature should not have let something like this go," neighbor Steven Moffitt said.

Moffitt said he filed complaints with the town and county two years ago.

About five other neighbors and businesses were also frustrated with the lack of upkeep on the property and had complained, Moffitt said.

Former town supervisor Alexander "Zandy" Gabriels put the Laws on notice to remove the home within 30 days after the town's inspection. Bolton obtained estimates from two companies to remove the home -- one for $22,010, and the other for $15,600.

The Laws failed to act, and the town filed a lawsuit for violating its town code on Oct. 30.

Walter Law later denied allegations in the town's complaint and said he and his wife were taking steps to remedy the situation.

In June 2006, the Laws began looking into removing the buildings, Walter Law said.

They received estimates of around $20,000 but stated in court documents that they still believed they could find a lower price.

Judge David Krogmann decided on Dec. 10 that the town could tear the main home down, but not until the Laws were given the opportunity to arrange for a demolition.

Krogmann, however, then stated that if the Laws did not demolish the home by Dec. 11, the town could proceed with its own razing.

Simmes said the Laws will be billed for the demolition by Ellsworth and Son Excavating of Lake George.

If they don't pay, the town will place a lien on the property.

The demolition began Monday, and Ellsworth and Son Excavating continued to remove debris on Tuesday.

"People need to realize if a building goes downhill, we will get it demolished," Nittmann said. "Any unsafe structure is a problem for neighbors and the town."

Walter Law said the property is available for sale.