NORWICH – After considering other options on the table during a special meeting of the Common Council, the city made the decision to move forward with the demolition of a house located at 17 1/2 King St., a property that officials cited as being uninhabitable, unsafe and extensively deteriorated.

According to reports submitted from the city’s code enforcement office, estimated costs to demolish the property top more than $17,000. The amount will be funded under the Community Development Small Cities Fund. Safety and health inspections revealed damage to the structure’s foundation, a roof in disrepair, and interior and exterior walls in need of substantial work.

Codes Enforcement Officer Jason Lawrence presented the council with an asbestos-finding report for the house, which means special oversight is needed in the demolition process. The council accepted a proposal from Atlantic Environmental Consulting LLC of Endwell to monitor activities required for the demolition and clearance of the structure, including the foundation. Burrell’s Excavating of Norwich is signing an agreement to carry out the work.

The city made an attempt to sell the property earlier this year. Request for Proposal forms were made available to potential buyers, but generated no interest. “It’s a depleted structure that no one has taken care of for years. No one wants to invest in it,” Lawrence said.