NORWICH – City of Norwich officials are deliberating the fate of a vacant run-down home on Silver Street that’s been nothing but a headache for local taxpayers.

Since 2013, the city has held title of the dilapidated tax foreclosed property at 45 Silver St., affirming that nearly $13,000 is owed in back taxes that date back to 2007. After issuing two RFPs (Request for Proposal) on the property last year that attracted only two undesirable bids, the Common Council passed a resolution in December of 2014 authorizing an agreement with BOCES to have students in the BOCES building and construction program convert the three-family apartment building into a four-bedroom, two and half bath single-family home while the city foots the cost of building materials.

A similar agreement was made with BOCES in 2010, when the city demolished a burned out peroperty on Front Street and arranged for BOCES students to build a new home in its place.

But unexpected and costly snags have thwarted the proposed BOCES partnership at 45 Silver St., explained City Codes Enforcement Officer Jason Lawrence, which has left the city faced with two options: either solicit another RFP on the property; or pay approximately $17,00 more to completely demolish it.