Demolition of South Amboy C-Town – Photo taken 11/23/15
*Photo by Carolyn Maxwell

By: Joseph L. Kuchie

SOUTH AMBOY – After a long legal process that took months to conclude, the destroyed C-Town property on Bordentown Avenue has finally begun demolition.

Mayor Fred Henry made the initial announcement at last Monday’s city council meeting that demolition and debris cleanup would begin on Nov. 18.

“I would like to thank the patience of our citizens. I know it’s not an easy process,” Henry said. “We have an investigation into the cause of the fire, the insurance companies, the courts involved…It just takes time but Wednesday will be the day they start.”

Council President Mickey Gross credited the hard work done by the city’s officials for making the demolition happen.

“I don’t think people realize the amount of effort our Business Administrator, our Mayor, our Law Director, and our City Engineer put into this,” Gross said. “It really should be part of the record here tonight. Thank you, it’s not something that just happened over night. As always you guys do a great job and I personally want to thank you for your efforts.”

The council held a moment of silence for those affected in the Paris terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of 120 people. Mayor Henry sent his condolences to the friends and families of those who lost their lives and hoped that the United States would come to their aid.

“We know that evil exists in the world and there are evil people out there. We offer our prayers and resolve that we will fight these terrorists,” Mayor Henry said. “These cowards who perpetrated this atrocity were evil and I hope our country takes the lead to bring them and people like them to an end.”

Councilman Applegate was not in attendance for the meeting. The next city council meeting will be held on December 16th at 7:00 p.m.