City orders demolition of downtown building destroyed by fire EVERETT - The city is requiring the owner of the downtown building destroyed in a November fire to demolish it by March 15.
Pete Sikov, owner of the McCrossen Building at Hewitt and Oakes avenues, received the demolition deadline from the city’s hearing examiner earlier this month.
A fire gutted the three-story building Nov. 8. The Hat Trick Pizzeria, the Spare Room Vintage Flea Market and a design firm were located on the first floor. At least 40 residents lived in the two upstairs floors. One resident died in the fire.
The hearing examiner’s decision Dec. 6 is the first step to demolishing the building, city spokeswoman Kate Reardon said last week.
“From the city’s perspective, it would take some time for that building to be demolished,” Reardon said.
Part of the process may be being delayed by Sikov’s insurance company negotiating with the insurance companies of his first-floor commercial tenants, city officials suggested.
The hearing examiner also mandated that Sikov build a covered construction walkway on the sidewalk by Friday, Dec. 14, often used at urban construction sites, to prevent injuries. It was built as of Dec. 16.
Pedestrians are going around fences closing off part of the sidewalk, which puts people in harm’s way if a piece of the building falls off, Reardon said.
The building was immediately condemned after the fire.
