A landmark for all the wrong reasons

SAUGUS – For anyone driving on Route 1 in Saugus, the leaning tower at Prince Pizzeria and the giant cactus at Hilltop Steakhouse are familiar sights. However, there?s one landmark that?s just as visible, but not nearly for the same reasons.The former Karla?s Shoes store has been sitting vacant at 1181 Broadway for nearly 15 years, according to Building Inspector Fred Varone. Located right off of Route 1 South at the Wakefield ? Main Street exit, it?s hard to miss the dilapidated store with its peeling and cracking red paint and shredded red and white awning. A pair of red signs with “Karla?s Shoes” written in white bubble letters are still propped against what once was the front entrance, and the empty lot in which it sits is overgrown with weeds and full of litter.?I have been here for 14 years and there was nothing there when I came here,” said Varone.According to assessors records, Isabelle Smith of Malden has owned the 1,600 square-foot store and the property since 1985. The property is currently valued at $357,500, $134,900 for the building and $222,600 for the land.?I just had her take a shed down that was there, but as long as that building is closed up, there?s not a lot I can do about it,” said Varone. “I can go after her for the maintenance code and make her paint it or something. How do you go after commercial property?”Smith declined to comment when reached by phone on Wednesday.Varone said the Department of Transportation has been looking to buy the property for years but hasn?t been able to work out a deal. However, DOT spokesperson Michael Verseckes there aren?t any current plans to acquire the property.?We don?t have any active projects going on in that immediate vicinity, and we don?t really have anything in the queue a couple years out, specifically in this location,” he said.Despite the outward appearance of the building, Public Health Director Frank Giacalone said there isn?t much inspectors can do unless there?s a health risk.?It?s maintained enough ? we get involved if it was an issue with rodents,” he said. “I don?t see that. It?s a building that doesn?t look good, but also on the building end of it, it?s structurally sound from what I know. It?s secure. I would not pursue anything right now, and there?s nothing for me to really pursue unless it becomes a nuisance where there might be some rodent harborage or things illegally dumped there, which I have not seen.”But Town Meeting member Janet Leuci said the town can do something about the property thanks to a of a bylaw passed at last year.Town Meeting unanimously passed Article 36 last June. The bylaw requires owners to register vacant or dilapidated properties with the town. It also allows inspectional services to issue fines up to $300 per month for properties that aren?t properly maintained, including commercial and residential.?Fines increase the longer the property is vacant,” said Leuci. “The town could go in there right now and assess fines. The town should be doing something. It was only a year ago ? (The bylaw is) new and I?m sure (inspectional services) needs to get acclimated with it ? The town really has to step up and do something with these properties.”Leuci also noted the Attorney General receivership program, which she has worked with to renovate and sell dilapidated homes in town, doesn?t apply to commercial properties.?The Attorney General usually isn?t interested in business-owned property,” she said. “I did bring them by there more than a year ago and their receivership program is basically for the restoration of residential homes for families. That didn?t really meet their criteria.”Until the town does take action, Karla?s Shoes will continue to be one of the last landmarks drivers see as they head south on Route 1.That is, until they get to the orange Tyrannosaurus rex at Route 99.