Demolition Of Burned-Out Hartford Building Draws A Crowd

HARTFORD The long-troubled, four-story brick apartment building that anchored the corner of Main and High streets for more than a century came tumbling down Friday, a day after it was weakened by a fire police say was set accidentally by a squatter.

As crews from Environmental Services Inc. of South Windsor razed the structure, people stopped by to watch the workers, reminisce about the building and speculate about what might replace it.

"I think it's horrible that one person could cause such destruction," said Sheri Garrett, who once lived nearby. "It's very sad, but at the same time it's an eyesore. It needs to come down."

"My father fought several fires in this building about 60 years ago," said Jack Dooley of Newington, who admitted he stopped by to gawk at the demolition.

A man who rode his bicycle over to watch the demolition said he had lived in the building about 15 years ago. The man, who identified himself only as Frank, said when he was there the building was full of tenants and had shops and a popular club on the ground floor.

"It was good. It was full," he said. "It was a nice building."

The building's owner, Eric Dornevil of Watertown, Mass., bought it in June 2003 through a city tax sale. He paid $125,000.

Since 2003, tax and utility liens have been placed on the property, which is listed in city land record as 1359-1363 Main St. The city also assessed $88,000 in fines in December after Dornevil failed to address blight issues at the property, according to land records and court filings. He could not be reached for comment Friday.

Francheska Dornevil is listed as the owner of the adjoining structure, 1355-1357 Main St., which was not razed Friday. There are tax and other liens on that property, too.

The fire caused extensive damage to the building, including a partial collapse in the rear, city officials said. Unable to reach Dornevil after the fire, city officials hired Environmental Services to take the building down.

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Demolition Of Burned-Out Hartford Building Draws A Crowd