Emergency Demolition of Downtown Building Could Cost Watertown Taxpayers Up to $800,000 -

The Watertown Post

By Joel Pilon | Watertown Post

WATERTOWN, N.Y. — City officials are preparing for what could become one of the most expensive emergency demolitions in recent memory, as the deteriorating building at 223 JB Wise Place continues to pose a growing public safety threat.

With fencing now surrounding the property and concerns mounting over a rooftop HVAC unit that officials say is at risk of collapsing, city leaders are moving quickly to address a structure they believe has reached a critical state of decline.

City Manager Eric Wagenaar said the demolition is expected to carry a hefty price tag.

“This is a big building, it’s going to be expensive,” Wagenaar said.

Early estimates place the cost of demolition between $700,000 and $800,000, though officials acknowledge the final price could climb higher depending on site conditions and unforeseen complications.

To cover the expense, Watertown City Council is expected to consider bonding the project during Monday night’s meeting rather than absorbing the full cost in a single budget year.

Taxpayers May Be Left Holding the Bill

The property is owned by Vina Bonner, who city officials say moved away from the area years ago. While demolition costs would legally be charged back to the owner, council members expressed little confidence that taxpayers will ever be reimbursed.

“I don’t see that person coming good on anything,” said City Council member Ben Shoen. “If it’s upwards of a million dollars, that’s going to have a significant impact on either our fund balance if we use the fund balance to pay for it, or our future tax rate.”

The situation is complicated further by Bonner’s previous financial obligations to the Watertown Local Development Corporation (WLDC).

According to officials, Bonner received loans through the agency to support the now-closed FunXscape entertainment business that once occupied the building’s first floor. The WLDC says approximately $200,000 remains unpaid.

Failed Business, Failed Communication

Former WLDC CEO Don Rutherford said the organization initially worked with Bonner in an effort to keep the business afloat and establish a repayment plan.

“It was a little tumultuous, to be honest with you,” Rutherford said. “When the business started to fail, it became a little more contentious.”

Rutherford said communication eventually stopped altogether.

“I was disappointed that she would not reach out to us or work with us. Initially, I think we could have come to a solution,” he said.

Officials say Bonner ultimately relocated across the country and ceased responding to attempts at communication.

Growing Concern at City Hall

Mayor Sarah Pierce said the prospect of taxpayers covering the cost remains troubling.

“If that expense does fall on the city taxpayers and we aren’t able to recover those monies from the person who is responsible, that is a concern,” Pierce said.

City officials estimate that a demolition cost approaching $900,000 would have roughly the same financial impact as a 1 percent increase in the city’s tax levy, underscoring the significance of the project for residents already facing rising costs.

For now, public safety remains the priority as the city moves toward emergency action. But once the dust settles, taxpayers may be left asking a difficult question: who ultimately pays when a major property owner walks away from a failing building?

City Council is expected to discuss financing options during its upcoming meeting.

Born and raised in Watertown, Joel Pilon is a Watertown High School graduate and longtime North Country observer. As a contributor to the Watertown Post, he covers everything from city government and infrastructure projects to fishing, tourism, economic development, and life in Northern New York. His reporting reflects a deep appreciation for the people, history, and future of the region he proudly calls home.