HAMILTON, NJ (MERCER)-– This past Fall, the Hamilton Township Council voted in favor of the demolition of East State Street properties damaged in a 2015 six-alarm fire. Yesterday, Mayor Martin was joined by Council Vice President Chuddy Whalen, Councilman Anthony Carabelli, Jr., and Director of the Department of Community & Economic Development Fred Dumont as demolition began.
Seven of the eight condemned properties damaged in the fire that tore through the 1700 block of East State Street, displacing dozens of residents, are set to be demolished. A private developer purchased the eighth property prior to acquiring the other vacant properties in 2021 by the Township. When stepping into office, Mayor Martin promised to address the vacant and abandoned properties within the Township.
“For six years, the residents of Hamilton have been reminded of the awful fire that took place in 2015,” stated Mayor Jeff Martin. “It is due time to move forward and rebuild. While we have more work to do on many other vacant and abandoned properties, this is a great place to start.”
Once demolition is complete, the Township will seek to convert the land to affordable housing units.
Hamilton Township Photos 1/27/2022 Photos by: Brian McCarthy, OnScene News
“I am going to mention one more thing about the Bromley Section of the city. We know that structure racism exists, houses burned down in the Bromley Section almost 5 years ago, those houses are still sitting there, that would happen in no other neighborhood in Hamilton but Bromley. That has to change. That’s racism. That’s separation. That’s underclass and we must speak up against that. We have some action items that we are going to demand Hamilton and Mercer County hold to before this is over.” –Black Lives Matter protester Tracey D. Syphax “I am going to mention one more thing about the Bromley Section of the city. We know that structure racism exists, houses burned down in the Bromley Section almost 5 years ago, those houses are still sitting there, that would happen in no other neighborhood in Hamilton but Bromley. That has to change. That’s racism. That’s separation. That’s underclass and we must speak up against that. We have some action items that we are going to demand Hamilton and Mercer County hold to before this is over.” –Black Lives Matter protester Tracey D. SyphaxPhoto taken June 15, 2020: Property remains abandoned 5 years after a “historic” 6-Alarm Fire in Hamilton. “Unsafe Structure Notice” are posted on several buildings in the 1700 Block of East State Street in Hamilton dated April 22, 2019
MidJersey.News 
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