WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Vacant Building Raises Concern Over Squatters
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Burlington, Vermont - November 22, 2008
When a fugitive from Vermont prison furlough was arrested in a vacant building last week, neighbors wondered if their neighborhood was becoming a target for trouble. The root cause is something that the City of Burlington has been dealing with for at least a decade.
The neighbors on South Champlain Street had reason to worry when 42-year-old Tony Barnier was arrested at his chosen hiding place, an old house that was not properly locked up. "It must be very well known then that this is empty and anybody could end up in there, you know, and that doesn't make our neighborhood safe any more," said Ann Maher, a concerned neighbor.
When the neighbors learned about Barnier's violent criminal history, they especially wanted to know why this had become a haven for squatters. "It was for sale for a long time but somebody had bought it for 160-thousand," said Eric Johnson, who also lives in the neighborhood. "I was really surprised -- I am surprised -- that a guy would know to go from prison -- to here."
The city has been aware of the problem for some time now, and almost ten years ago enacted a vacant buildings ordinance directing property owners to secure their buildings -- as the new owner here has done.
Brian Pine, a housing specialist with the Burlington Community & Economic Development Office, said, "I think it's safe to say that you can't always catch every property quickly enough."
Pine says the building in question was secured immediately after Barnier's arrest. While vacant buildings can become troublesome, there aren't as many in Burlington as there once were. Pine pointed to two examples, a century-old, long abandoned home on Pine Street that had deteriorated to the point where it was becoming a health and fire hazard, and another run-down, vacant home on Cherry street adjacent to the central business district. "You can look at (the) one on Pine Street behind the old Sh-Na-Na's that's completely renovated and occupied," Pine said. "You can look at the property on Cherry Street, which was the poster child of vacant buildings, and that has been completely renovated and occupied. So I'd say for the most part the ordinance is a success."
Already, the South Champlain street building was on the city's list of potential trouble spots. "We need to be vigilant and constantly on top of where those buildings are and what the status of those buildings are," Pine said. "And this is sometimes a bit of a wake up call when you have something like this happen."
The passage of time constantly creates new problem properties. But just as many vacant buildings have been brought back to a useful life. This one is slated for rehab as well. The neighbors won't have to worry about it any more.
Andy Potter - WCAX News
