The problems began when a wall collapsed at 301 21st St. The city decided that, since 303 21sr St. was so close, they would tear it down as well because they doubted they could raze the first house without damaging it. In this age of controlled demolition, this sounds more like an easy and cheap resolution tied to their preference to use a backhoe to take down the structures.
When Basle ran back to the home where he was raised, he found it a pile of rubble. He had been told that he would be given a hearing at 1 pm, but the demolition was well on its way by then and the hearing was canceled.
What is equally troubling is the treatment of Richard Albagli. His home at 303 21st St. was told that his home would be demolished simply because the city did not think it could take down his neighbor’s house without damaging it. Of course, one would expect them to try and then determine any structural damage. Instead, the city took a backhoe to both homes. Albagli asked to be able to go into the house to retrieve valuable and was refused. This is bizarre because Basle was supposedly allowed to enter his home — which was the one that was partially collapsed. A;bagli also went to court but was denied the right to enter his home to retrieve valuable instruments and collections.
He even offered to waive liability but was denied access.
The whole affair is troubling. The lack of hearings. The refusal to accommodate the neighbor. The categorical insistence that the other home could not be preserved (and the city would not try). For libertarians, it does not get more nightmarish.
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