Tryon discusses meeting with owner to come up with a plan

TRYON — After finding out it would cost the town about $100,000 to clean up  the debris left after last year’s Melrose Inn fire, town officials now say they are working with the owner.

The Tryon Town Council met Monday and heard from Community Development Director Tim Daniels, who said owner Marilyn Doheny attended a meeting last week. Doheny lost everything in the fire and did not have insurance.

Debris — including the building’s basement — remains on the property, located on Melrose Avenue across from the Tryon Fine Arts Center. Melrose Inn was one of Tryon’s oldest buildings.

“The owner has declared interest in resolving the issue herself,” Daniels said. “We will be meeting to discuss a plan.”

The 26,000-square-foot building, built in 1889, burnt to the ground in early September 2018 following an electrical fire.

Last month, Tryon officials discussed estimates of almost $100,000 to clean up the property. The town was planning to take over the property through its minimum housing standards and clean up the property, so received estimates in December. The estimates included $350 for asbestos cleanup and $95,300 for debris removal. Daniels told the council last month that the asbestos cleanup costs could be more.

Tryon is trying to remove dilapidated structures in town by approving minimum housing ordinances for ones that are not fit for habitation and need cleaning up.

Daniels also updated the council this week on a couple of houses on East Livingston Street that are close to being able to be burned down.

Another owner of a home the town has been trying to get cleaned up is making progress, Daniels said, including fixing the deck. Daniels said he has not yet gotten estimates on the costs for the demolition of the homes on East Livingston, but will have those during the town’s next meeting in February.

Daniels also said Doheny had estimates during last week’s planning board meeting. The town’s estimates on cleaning up the Melrose Inn property, Daniels said, will take the foundation out and end up just being dirt and grass.