PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The first of four blighted properties to be demolished this spring was taken down Thursday morning.

 

The first on the docket was 49-55 John St. The property is one Mayor Linda Tyer had campaigned in front of during her first bid for office four years ago and was removed the morning Tyer announced her second bid for the corner office. 

 

At 9 a.m., Associated Building Wreckers out of Springfield began razing the property. The building had been in code enforcement since 2016 and had been in significant disrepair before.

 

The owner, Raymond Supranowicz, told city officials he was looking to sell the property and claimed he had stopped working on it because it was broken into and copper was stolen.

 

But the property had significant issues with overgrowth, there was a lack of lighting and security, there were no utilities, fire alarms were not connected to alert the Fire Department, and there were significant structural issues, according to the Health Department.

 

Following that, the company, which was awarded $193,043 contract for the multiple property demolitions, will move on to 100 John St. Two others slated for demolition this spring include 68-70 Lincoln St. and 105 Daniels Ave.

 

The fight against blight is a lengthy process with multiple avenues a city can take. Pittsfield demolishes about four to six properties a year.

 

The city has a lengthy list of vacant properties to comb through. A code enforcement team consisting of the building inspectors and Fire, Health, and Engineering departments priorities and determine which properties will be torn down. That group meets regularly with representatives from the Department of Community Development, the city solicitor, and the Purchasing Department.