By Mike Pettinella
Video News Service
Just like the name of James Pontillo’s limited liability company, the plight of the former Stafford Trading Post certainly is “the talk of the town.”
On Sunday afternoon, Pontillo invited Alecia Kaus, publisher of Video News Service, and this reporter to tour the inside of the 134-year-old two-story structure that he purchased in 2010.
FIRST FLOOR-Restaurant area – Pontillo said he could get the area finished in three months for a “turnkey” operation. He says he still needs to seal the floor, add carpeting, and do some painting and some electrical work.
Pontillo says all of the equipment works. He says he also found original doors and is looking to repurpose them.
At one point during the 90-minute visit, he mentioned that he and his wife, Laura, named his company Jimmy’s Pizzeria LLC, The Talk of the Town, as a tribute to the nightclub of the same name owned by his late father, James, in Orlando, Fla., in the late 1970s.
Without question, the building at the corner of Routes 5 and 237 in the hamlet has been a much talked about topic over the years.
Previously:
https://fb.watch/s-W_YWdD3C– August 8, 2015-STAFFORD Residents upset with lengthy dispute over fence on historical property
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APARTMENTS
Pontillo said he could have the apartments ready in a month or two to have tenants
Studio apartment – front of building – along Route 5 – 25 by 21
Two-bedroom apartment – 12 by 12 and 10 ½ by 17 – living room 17 by 19, kitchen 18 by 15 – full bath
One-bedroom apartment – back – northeast side – living/dining room 17 ½ by 27, full bath, small kitchen, bedroom 15 by 19
Pontillo has done plenty of work on the interior (he had tenants in the three upstairs apartments until they were evicted by the town seven years ago) and said he plans to put vinyl siding on three sides of the exterior and stucco on the front.
Before that can happen, however, he has to respond to a lawsuit filed by the Town of Stafford, which, on April 25, placed a certificate of abandonment on the building.
In a complaint filed on behalf of the town by the Warsaw law firm of DiMatteo Roach & Kelly, the town contends that the building is “abandoned and unsafe … has been an intractable problem for the Town … and is a blight that stands center stage in the Town’s business district.”
Pontillo has been summoned to appear in Genesee County Supreme Court at 10 a.m. Aug. 15 before Judge Diane Y. Devlin.
The town, in its 10-page complaint, cited numerous code violations and certified the building as abandoned, “setting into motion the process of gaining title to it so that the building can be restored or demolished.”
Code violations listed in the complaint include unfinished roof, missing fire escape, electric meters not attached to the building, no working fire alarm system, no fire separation and building structure is neglected and presents “a threat to life and safety.”
Pontillo said each apartment has a ladder that hooks to the window for escape purposes, there are numerous fire extinguishers, more than two dozen smoke detectors/strobes throughout, emergency lighting, lighted exit signs and fire coded walls.
Regarding the roof, Pontillo said he is going to Stafford Town Hall again on Tuesday morning to obtain a permit to fix a 3-foot section near the front of the building.
“Its leaking in a couple spots,” he said. “I’m going to let them know that if I don’t get a permit to fix it, then they will be responsible for any damage incurred.”
The complaint states that if the title is not transferred to the town, then the court must order “deadlines for the defendant to submit a complete building permit application and perform construction necessary to render the building in a safe and reasonably maintained condition.”
It also seeks a judgment against Pontillo if the deadlines aren’t met, followed by demolition of the building at Pontillo’s expense.
Pontillo said he has gone to the Stafford Town Hall on different occasions to obtain a building permit but that code enforcement officers have refused to grant one due to pending legal action.
He also said he believes the town board is making it difficult for him because it wants him to sell the building.
“It’s my understanding that the town’s attorney has someone interested in purchasing the building for $50,000,” Pontillo said, adding that the Englerth family – which owns Shell’s Post next door – had offered to buy it for that amount. “But I’ve already had other offers for as much as $125,000 but I can’t get guarantees from the town that they will work with the new owners (to allow them to fix it up).”
Video News Service called the town attorney’s office but was told that David Roach, who is handling the case, was on vacation until next week.
Pontillo said he plans to attend the next Stafford Town Board meeting, which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 12th.
Prior to that, there is a community meeting from 6-7:30 p.m. this Wednesday, August 7th at Emery Park. There will be a petition available at the meeting for residents to sign to prevent the historic building from being demolished.
Fascinating story! So the question is whether Mr. Pontillo has been derelict in correcting the safety violations or the town government has been hampering his efforts to do so. The substantial work Mr. Pontillo has done on the inside suggests that he’s genuinely trying to fix up the place. If the recently reported break-in and vandalism and the reported theft of the trailer containing the roofing materials are accurate, they would comprise strong evidence that someone is attempting to stop the renovation work. He should hire a good attorney immediately if he hasn’t done so yet. He should also get the property appraised, both as it stands now and as it would be if he were to implement his plans. I personally hope the building is properly renovated and that Mr. Pontillo does not lose it because of criminality and possible government malfeasance.
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