Pocono News Section

Burned Shell of Building Angers Residents

Burned Shell of Building Angers Residents - Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 3:11PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Thursday, Oct 11, 2007 @03:11pm EST
STROUDSBURG - It's been more than a year, in fact a year and a month this week, since fire ransacked a block of businesses in the heart of Monroe County.

While the flames are long gone, the mess remains. People who live and work in Downtown Stroudsburg want to know why.

Customers at the Jade Hair Salon expect to relax but that's tough to do while looking out at a scorched downtown building. Jade's owner Andrea Snyder said, "It's ugly and it is smelly and it is just not safe."

It's been more than a year since fire destroyed this building on Sixth Street in Stroudsburg. The fire claimed an entire block of businesses and the ugly aftermath is claiming many of Snyder's customers. She explained, "It's keeping so many clients away and so many people from coming up and down the street. It's a nightmare."

Borough officials would like to tear down the mess but it's taking longer than expected because of a tangle of legal issues involving the building owner and insurance companies. Snyder understands but wishes someone would at least clean up the broken glass, garbage and weeds. She said, "Just to see some action, some kind of action going on would be wonderful."

The building's broker would also like things cleaned up. Since it's just a block off of Main Street and around the corner from the Monroe County Courthouse, this is prime property."

Michael Baxter owns the commercial Real Estate Company that's selling the building. He said, "I would say we have a good dozen people that are sort of waiting in the wings to see what happens with demolition and then they'll takea harder look at it."

Baxter told WBRE News it's crucial to fix the building to maintain Stroudsburg's reputation. He said, "Downtown Stroudsburg has always thrived and it's always been very successful so I want to see downtown Stroudsburg continue to thrive and I really believe it will.

WBRE contacted the Stroudsburg Borough Manager and Solicitor to find out when the building would be torn down. They did not return phone calls.