GOBLES, Mich-
Back in April, Jan’s Trailside Cafe, Jan’s Oasis, and C.C.C. Bait and Tackle burned to the ground. Today, the pile of rubble remains where the building once stood.
Businesses in the downtown area say it’s an eyesore.
“Well, obviously no one is happy about it,” Joann Boyer of Hometown Pharmacy said. “It’s an eyesore in the town, but I don’t know what the solution is.”
Carol Johnson, the mayor of Gobles, agreed Monday afternoon that something needs to be done to clean up the lot. There have been some issues with the property owner and their insurance company, Johnson said.
Boyer has heard that, too. “From what we understand there was an argument with the insurance, and they’re fighting it out,” Boyer said.
The wreckage is also a potential safety hazard, according to Johnson.
Johnson says the insurance company that’s working with the property owner was paying for the fence that surrounds the building. The contract to keep that fence up expired last month, which means it could come down any day now.
“It was just a bad situation,” Boyer said. “I wish we could get past it and move on to a better future for the town.”
Boyer says she just wants to see something happen.
“I would like to see it cleaned up and some new commerce to come into town,” Boyer said.
According to Johnson, there will be a blight hearing on November 26 regarding the property. She’s hoping the judge will order some form of action to be taken to help get the lot cleaned.
