Last call for building that formerly housed Mario’s Lodge, Silks Bar and Grill
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Monday, crews from Chernoh Excavating Inc. began the demolition of the dilapidated building formerly known as Mario’s Lodge and Silks Bar and Grill.
The building is located at 14825 Lakeshore Drive in downtown Clearlake.
The demolition and cleanup should be completed within two days, according to City Manager Greg Folsom.
The building has been vacant and red-tagged for several years due to health and safety issues with the building, Folsom said.
Folsom said the city had been working with the property owner to try to address those concerns, but no progress was made.
In an effort to force compliance, Folsom said the city pursued a court ordered receivership to take custodial responsibility for the property in order to abate the red tag on the building.
He said the process lasted many months but finally the court-appointed receiver was authorized to demolish the building to abate the health and safety conditions leading to the red tag.
Pursuant to state law, the costs of the receivership will be borne by the property owner.
This is the latest building to be torn down in the Lakeshore Drive corridor over the last few years in an effort to clean up key areas of the city.
Previously, the city has torn down the former chamber building on Golf Avenue; two other abandoned buildings located next to Howard’s Grotto that had been taken over by homeless persons and drug users; and the abandoned building across from City Hall on Lakeshore.
“Abating this property has been a goal of the city for a long time,” Folsom said. “We are pleased that the court ordered receiver was finally able to work through the legal process and remove this eyesore. This site has great potential for future development.”