SACO ”“ A decision on whether to demolish a building a historic building at 90 Temple St. has been put on hold, and the City Council is seeking input from the city’s Historical Preservation Commission.

The house at 90 Temple St. was damaged in a fire in 2012, displacing the tenants that lived in the building. Water coming into the building through holes in the roof has added damage to the building.

Code Enforcement Officer Dick Lambert said the roof is structurally unsafe, there is mold in the building, and water collects in the basement when it rains.

The city filed suit against the owner, Angela Harvey, and financing company Bank of America, for owning a dangerous building. Neither the owner nor her lender appeared in court, and the judge ruled in favor of the city, allowing it to remove the structure.

If the building is torn down, the city will bill the owner, and the cost will be added to back taxes owed.

Alternatively, the city could take possession of the building next year. An existing lien on the property will mature in January, and if the owner fails to make payment requirements, the city will then own the property.

The cost to tear down the home and adjacent carriage house is estimated to be $30,000, and the value of the land the house is on is estimated to be about $50,000.

The council was set to vote on whether to move forward to demolish the building, but voted instead to table the decision, and allow the Historical Preservation Commission to weigh in and discuss options for the property.

Downtown resident and business owner Beth Johnston, mother of city councilor Nathan Johnston, noted that the house, which dates back to 1890, was on the National Register. She said it was once owned by a prominent Saco citizen and was a prime example of Queen Anne style architecture. She said the building has a lot of unique features, and though it was damaged, the house had a lot of value.

“It seems to me, if the city really values its treasures, and this is one of them, there are ways to make this work out,” she said. She said the city should seek out someone who wants to restore the home.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribunecom.