BIDDEFORD — Two buildings in the city will be demolished unless the owners fix hazardous issues within a month, the City Council determined Tuesday.

The owners of 36 Water St. and 42 Center St. have ignored numerous notices to bring the buildings into compliance with city code, city officials say.

The decision was made at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting after councilors heard accounts from Code Enforcement Officer Roby Fecteau, Deputy Police Chief JoAnne Fisk and Deputy Fire Chief Paul LaBrecque.

Fecteau said the building on Center Street had debris in the house and in the backyard, a broken handrail, and shingles falling from the roof that were landing in a neighbor’s yard. People have broken windows, trespassed on the property, stripped the building of copper pipe and tagged it with graffiti.

The Water Street building has insufficient supports on the first floor, unsafe electrical wiring, holes in the floor and debris strewn about. The inside stairs have been removed, and the structure is leaning against the house next door, said Fecteau.

“This is definitely a hazard,” said Councilor John McCurry. “If you went through the front door trying to battle a fire, you’re going to end up in the cellar because of the holes in the floor. This is terrible.”

Both structures are vacant, and utilities have been shut off. The city has contacted the owners multiple times over the past several years, to no avail.

Councilor Marc Lessard said he favors demolishing the buildings because keeping the buildings could have a negative impact on the community.

“This is blight,” he said.

The owners of the buildings are ordered to demolish them in 45 days or fix them in 30 days.

“The hope, of course, is that the property owner steps up and demolishes the building at its expense, basically to be in compliance with the order,” said City Attorney Keith Jacques. “In the real world, that doesn’t happen very frequently when you get to the point that we’re at today.”

Jacques said if the owners don’t demolish the buildings, the city will hire a contractor at its expense and charge the property owners a fee.

The properties would still belong to the current owners unless property taxes are unpaid for about 20 months, at which time the city would take ownership, said City Manager Jim Bennett.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.