New Berlin building condemned

NEW BERLIN – Due in part to high winds sweeping through Wednesday, one of the village’s historic landmarks had to be condemned.

New Berlin residents noticed bricks falling from the three-story building and immediately contacted county officials. Chenango County Code Officer Bruce Bates said after being notified of the damage on the east side of the historically-listed structure, located at 2 N. Main St. in downtown New Berlin, and hearing concerns from firefighters, he was on the scene to take a closer assessment of the damage.

“The building was in need of attention and is in danger of collapsing,” Bates said.

Bates said Gene Root, an engineer from Oxford, was called in following the initial assessment, and by Thursday morning, the building was not only barricaded, but the precautionary area was extended to encompass the sidewalk and end at the street. “It is warned that no one should enter the premises,” said Bates.

Within an hour of the first assessment, Bates said there were four apartments which were occupied and two businesses, one of which had just been vacated, and another which appeared empty, that had to be evacuated from the building. “I am unsure of where all of the residents have relocated to,” said Bates. “After our assessment was made, we were in contact with the county’s social services department and offered the residents assistance in finding somewhere to go.”