Trenton Officials Seek Court Order for Former Riverside Hospital Property

Several Trenton officials said they are fed up with the ongoing issues regarding the former Riverside Hospital property and voted to seek legal counsel at Monday's city council meeting.

City Administrator Jim Wagner said he would like City Attorney Wallace Long to commence proceedings toward obtaining a court order for city officials to inspect the site and that those findings be forwarded to the Dangerous Building Board for a hearing on the matter.

Wagner, City Engineer Bill Hogan and City Building Inspector Virgil Maiani met with Nasir on Jan. 25 to request access to the property for an inspection. City officials have issued Nasir 10 violations since Oct. 2012 and an inspection must be made to determine if the violations have been resolved.

Nasir did not agree to the inspection. Nasir, in a letter to Mayor Kyle Stack on Jan. 30, said he's been in touch with bidders for the demolition of a church house and boiler house on the property, which he said would take about 90 days to complete.

"Mr. Wagner met with Dr. Nasir and asked for permission to go into the building," Councilperson MaryEllen McLeod said. " He was denied permission to go into the building."

The following violations still existed on Jan. 14, according to Maiani:

• Remove all graffiti on powerhouse and north side of building off George Street.
• Paint all boarded up windows, doors, and any openings on east and north side of building.
• Secure open roof on glass enclosure on south side of building off Truax.
• Repaint signs off West Jefferson Avenue with matching window paint.

Nasir told Stack in September 2012 he would likely not build, as planned, an estimated $14 million skilled nursing center on the site.

Nasir could not be reached for comment.

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