Crews work to clear brush at Flavel mansion in Astoria
Published 5:00 pm Saturday, June 30, 2012
- <p> Remodeling contractor John Davies and his brother Jim Davies have been working since Friday to clear the brush from the Flavel house because it is a fire hazard. There is a new city ordinance for derelict buildings that requires this. They will also be boarding up windows and putting a plastic tarp on the roof to keep moisture out. John Davis is pictured using a tractor with a mower attachment to grind up tree branches. Jim Davies used a chainsaw to cut some tree branches down. They've been working 10-hour days. </p>
Crews worked to clear the brush at the Flavel mansion at 15th Street in Astoria Sunday.
The action came after city code enforcement crews served an inspection warrant on the property Friday to make sure the inside was safe.
Remodeling contractor John Davies and his brother Jim Davies have been working since Friday to clear the brush from the Flavel house because it is a considered a fire hazard.
They will also be boarding up windows and putting a plastic tarp on the roof to keep moisture out.
A derelict building ordinance was passed more than a year ago by the city of Astoria. And while the City Council discussed making derelict homes a thing of the past, members had one family in particular in mind The Flavels.
The home at 627 15th St. and a commercial building downtown have been in disarray for a number of years.
The city cannot locate the last known surviving Flavel, Mary Louise, and have exhausted all opportunities of contacting her, issuing notices to no avail.
For more on this story, and more photos, see The Daily Astorian this week
