One of BA Sports condemnation tags comes down. But two remain.

April 19 ushered in an evening of mixed relief for Judi Cook, owner of BA Sports and Cravingz. After months of deliberations, the Village’s newly retained inspection services removed one of three condemnation tags marring her building at 122 S. Clinton. Photo credit Judi Cook.

By Patrice Johnson

April 19 ushered in an evening of mixed relief for Judi Cook, owner of BA Sports and Cravingz. After months of deliberations, the Village’s newly retained inspection services removed one of three condemnation tags marring her building at 122 S. Clinton.

“Three months and three days,” businessperson Judi Cook said with a sigh. Cook has been counting the days of negotiations and financial hardship since the building inspector first attached condemnation notices to the plate-glass windows of BA Sports on January 17.

In response to questions, Cook wrote, “One tag lifted after extensive electric work to bring work area up to government code.”

Two red tags, both dog-eared and faded to pink, remain affixed to Cook’s storefront windows to the north. The brick buildings, spanning the distance from Cravingz to the pharmacy, line Stockbridge’s Main Street and represent approximately two-thirds of the downtown retail frontage.

Cook has been counting the days of negotiations and financial hardship since the building inspector first attached condemnation notices to the plate-glass windows of BA Sports on January 17. Photo credit Rose Collison.

Two red tags, long dog-eared and faded to pink, remain affixed to Cook’s storefront windows to the north. Photo credit Patrice Johnson.

Cook’s nightmare began when an independent architectural consultant determined the building was unsafe for habitation, yet no one seemed willing to specify what repairs were needed.

March 5, the Village contracted Associated Government Services (AGS) to administer the Village’s building inspection and zoning services, and the change appears to have helped resolve, in part, the impasse between Cook and the Village (See Stockbridge Community News, https://stockbridgecommunitynews.com/architectural-consultant-calls-for-immediate-evacuation-of-downtown-stockbridge-retail-building/) and https://stockbridgecommunitynews.com/village-council-moves-forward-on-budget-and-blight-as-ba-sports-remains-closed/)

The brick buildings, spanning the distance from Cravingz to the pharmacy, line Stockbridge’s Main Street and represent approximately two-thirds of the downtown retail frontage. Photo credit Patrice Johnson.