Demolition crews frustrated by pizza-eating attorney.
Demolition work on the Kalet’s building in downtown Auburn was put on hold Friday while an attorney representing Joseph Camardo Jr. sat directly next to the work site.
And an attorney with the city of Auburn said that — for safety’s sake — it’s unlikely that demolition work can continue if the same thing continues to happen.
Carl DePalma sat in a chair eating pizza early Friday afternoon facing an area where a crew with contractor American DND was planning to take down a brick chimney at the back end of the Kalet’s building. A lift was parked next to the chimney, and workers had placed caution tape around the site to keep people from entering.
DePalma is representing Camardo, who is also an attorney, in a lawsuit against the city over the Kalet’s building demolition project. Camardo’s law firm is one of multiple properties next to the vacant Kalet’s building, which is owned by the city.
DePalma said he wanted to watch the contractor work, claiming the city has not been forthcoming or honest with him or Camardo about demolition plans.
“We just don’t feel they’re complying with anything they’ve told us they’re going to do,” DePalma said.
The city plans to tear down the building and then transfer the property to Cayuga County for use by Cayuga Community College. The college would then build a performing arts venue with a mix of state and private funds.
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