CARMEL – The future of 34 Gleneida Avenue in the heart of the Putnam County seat in Carmel remains up in the air.
On Thursday evening, members of the legislature’s Physical Services Committee chaired by Legislator William Gouldman continued discussing the future of the former home of Putnam Motors, Putnam Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and the Putnam Economic Development Corp., the main floor of which is currently rented by United for the Troops.
Discussion centered on demolishing the building which is located directly in front of the current Putnam County Courthouse and converting the property into a park and recreational area or converting the building into a youth or community center.
Former Legislator Richard Othmer, now Kent highway superintendent, told lawmakers, “This issue has been debated for 22 years. It’s time to act. Legislators were elected to take action. Do your job and tear down the building. It will be a popular decision.”
Legislator Tommy Regan, who sits on the committee along with Gouldman and Legislator Amy Sayegh, called the parcel of land “extremely important and valuable which is why I was against selling it from the beginning.”
In June, the legislature rejected a bid from a private individual to purchase the building.
Developer Paul Camarda addressed the committee and a handful of people in attendance urging that “34 Gleneida Avenue should not be developed.”
Instead, he said, park benches are needed to draw people to the Lake Gleneida area and encourage more foot traffic along sidewalks in the county seat.Bottom of Form
The legislators also received a lengthy report from William Bujarski, an architect with the Putnam Department of Highways and Facilities who inspected the entire structure.
Bujarski noted that 34 Gleneida is not accessible to people with disabilities and that the building does not meet current construction or energy conservation standards.
He also recommended evaluating the building’s heating and air conditioning systems, electrical service and fire suppression needs.
The architect estimated a price tag of $200,000 to demolish the building with grading and landscaping as a green space.
After a 75-minute discussion and debate, the committee made no decision.
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