LYNN — Two property owners who City Councilors said “walked away” from maintaining a Parrott Street building must show the city a $100,000 bank note and pay back taxes before they can redeem the property.
Unpaid property taxes landed the two-family residence at 29 Parrott in the city’s hands, said Assistant City Solicitor James Lamanna, but the law gives Chris Graham of Chelmsford and John Lembidakis of Saugus a year to retake possession of the property subject to council approval.
Graham said the pair bought the building in 2007 for $230,000 and undertook significant renovations. The owners prepared to rent the building when individuals Graham identified as “squatters” moved in, changed the locks on the doors, and resisted Graham and Lembidakis’ efforts to get them out of the building.
“They had more rights than we thought. As an owner, it was a nightmare,” Graham said.
He said the building was all but “destroyed” by 2010, forcing the owners to come up with a new plan to renovate the building again.
“We had to start over,” said Graham, but Ward 3 Councilor Darren Cyr said city violation notices filed against 29 Parrott and neighbors’ complaints indicated Graham and Lembidakis did little, if any work, on the building during the last three years.
“You guys just walked away from it. It’s not fair to give it back to you,” Cyr told the pair.
Cyr and Ward 2 Councilor William Trahant dismissed Graham’s claim during a Council public property committee meeting Tuesday that $20,000 worth of renovations will restore the property. Cyr estimated more than three times that amount needs to be invested into 29 Parrott.
Cyr and Trahant said the pair never made efforts to pay off back taxes or undertake gradual repairs on the building.
“I’m sick and tired of people coming into the city and taking advantage. You had plenty of time to work with the city but you didn’t,” Cyr said.
Trahant said the empty property contributed to a rat infestation on Parrott, a side street between Chatham and Fayette streets.
Cyr, Trahant, Ward 4 Councilor Richard Colucci and Councilor at large Daniel Cahill agreed to give Graham and Lembidakis time to acquire a bank note and pay the $27,000 in back taxes they owe.
“In the meantime, you’ve got to clean it up,” Trahant warned them.
The pair said they will do their best to comply with the council order.
“We’re just getting around to getting back on our feet,” Lembidakis said.
In other business Tuesday, councilors voted 8-2 to reelect Councilor at large Timothy Phelan council president. Cahill voted for himself and Ward 5 Councilor Brendan Crighton voted for Cahill. Ward 6 Councilor Peter Capano was absent for the vote due to what Phelan described as an “emergency meeting” at the River Works. Capano is International Union of Electrical Workers Local 201 vice president.
Ward 7 Councilor Richard Ford was unanimously reelected council vice president.
Thor Jourgensen can be reached at [email protected].
