Paulee wall decision expected to come Wednesday

A decision is expected Wednesday on a request for money to repair the crumbling wall above the former Paulee Restaurant in Richmond’s Historic Depot District.

The Richmond Redevelopment Commission meets at noon that day with only one item on its agenda — a request for $120,211 from several business owners who are locked in a legal dispute over who is responsible for the wall at 414 N. Eighth St.

The commission discussed the request and held a public hearing on it at its July 8 meeting but tabled action while taking time to consider the issue.

In 2014, city officials ordered the wall repaired, but that has not happened since building owner GBA Properties is locked in legal wranglings with Beth Brittenham-Foster, who owns the Paulee space, and Porter Advertising, which for years had hung billboards on the wall.

At issue was whether the wall is a common, or shared, wall.

The various sides were stalemated in court and went to mediation where, ultimately, they decided on pooling $40,000 for repairs and coming to the redevelopment commission for the rest.

GBA Properties, whose principal owner is Roger Richert, has stopped paying property tax on the building, which went unsold at a recent tax sale.

Beard Masonry of Richmond provided the estimate on repairs to the wall, but officials there said the work would need to begin soon to avoid rainy fall weather.

Redevelopment commission member Steve Stevens said he hopes the commission can move ahead with a decision Wednesday.

“I would like to think that we would since there are some timeliness issues for the contractor,” Stevens said. “It needs to be fixed.”

More than 75 people attended the July 8 commission meeting, the vast majority in favor of the funding request.

Those in favor argued the funding would help continue the progress made in the depot district.

Stevens said he has heard from “a fair amount of people” on the issue, but “I can’t say there was any real consensus on this one.”

“I guess the only real consensus I’ve heard is that no one wants to see the depot district regress. They all want to see it move forward,” Stevens said.

Stevens said there might be some discussion about covenants to be included with the funding request.

“I’m sure there’ll be some discussion about that,” he said.

Staff writer Bill Engle: (765) 973-4481 or bengle@pal-item.com. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/billengle_PI.

If you go

The Richmond Redevelopment Commission meets at noon Wednesday in Council Chambers at the Richmond Municipal Building, 50 N. Fifth St.

The meeting is open to the public but will be preceded by a closed session at 11:30 a.m. in which commission members will discuss litigation that is either pending or has been threatened specifically in writing.

For more information, interested persons should call the city planning department at (765) 983-7342.