Town Evicts Last Tenant of Blighted Broad Street Properties

The town of Manchester had to go to court recently to force the last tenant of the blighted Nichols properties on Broad Street to move from the building; the town plans to demolish the buildings once the last tenant has vacated the premises. 

The town voted in February of this year to pay $62,000 to essentially take possession of a trio of blighted properties at 295, 299, and 303 Broad Street, which once housed automotive businesses, but have long since sat mostly vacant. But A & F Restorations, a furniture restoration company, has occupied space at 299 Broad Street for the past 13 years, according to Town Attorney Tim O'Neil, and has not paid rent on the property for the past four years. 

The town purchased the property from the Estate of Stephen Nicholas after more than $280,000 in back taxes accumulated on the properties, and went to court recently to force A & F Restorations and owner Fred Weinle from the building. 

O'Neil told Patch Friday, July 26, 2013, that the town reached an agreement through the court with Weinle "where he is going to be leaving on September 30 of this year no ifs, ands or buts." 

Court documents state that "if the conditions stated above are not followed completely, the plaintiff (landlord) has the right to apply for an execution from the Clerk of the Court, which gives a Marshal the right to physically move  out your possessions." 

Weinle said that he has covered the cost of numerous repairs to the building over the past few years, which were not covered by the former owner, and that the move will "absolutely" have an impact on his business. 

"Definitely whenever you have to move quite a few things," Weinle said. "Especially in this economy, which isn't the greatest." 

Weinle said he is looking at locations in East Hartford and South Windsor to move his business to. 

General Manager Scott Shanley said the town is in the process of securing bids for the demolition of the properties once Weinle vacates, and that the Manchester Redevelopment Agency would then determine a use for the cleared land. 

"That property is more attractive to someone - either to the town or a private developer - with those properties scraped off than sitting there," O'Neil said.