Hamilton considers eminent domain to build new homes following fire
HAMILTON » A stretch of East State Street flame-damaged properties in the township’s Bromley section could soon be demolished, reconstructed and converted into eight affordable housing units.
Almost three years after a sixalarm fire destroyed the rowhomes and displaced 44 people, the Hamilton Township municipal government on Tuesday was expected to reaffirm its commitment to condemn and restore the dwellings.
The accidental blaze erupted on the 1700 block of East State Street when roofers mishandled a tar-melting process during the afternoon of June 8, 2015. The roofers called 911 upon seeing smoke billow from the roof, but the fire quickly spread across the rooftops of adjoining homes, police said at the time.
It took firefighters more than three hours to extinguish the inferno, which damaged 16 homes and left 44 people displaced, including 18 residents who were said to be impacted by long-term displacements.
The Mayor Kelly Yaede administration “has been considering a plan to acquire the fire-damaged properties for the purpose of reconstructing the properties and converting them into affordable housing units,” according to a township resolution that Hamilton Council was expected to pass Tuesday.
During a post-election lameduck session last December, four of the five Republicans who sat on Hamilton Council passed a resolution supporting a reconstruction plan for the affected area. GOP Councilman Ralph Mastrangelo was not present at that meeting.
The newly reorganized Hamilton Council, which now consists of three Democrats and two Republicans, was expected to repeal and replace the December 2017 resolution with a similar one supporting the Yaede administration’s plan, which calls for the creation of eight new affording housing units in Hamilton Township.
The residences destroyed by the June 2015 fire “require demolition to ensure the safety of the neighboring citizens and property,” according to the resolution Hamilton Council was expected to pass Tuesday evening. “Whereas it is in the best interests of the citizens of Hamilton Township to demolish and reconstruct the fire-demolished properties and convert them into affording housing units.”
Under the reconstruction plan, the township would be prepared to acquire the privately owned buildings through eminent domain or condemnation proceedings, if necessary.