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The row of damaged buildings on West College Avenue in York is torn down in March after an explosion. At left is where Mike's Nut Shop stood at the corner of South Richland and West College avenues.<br />&middot; <a href="http://w2.ydr.com/forms/sendPhoto.php?photo=27314">E-mail photo</a><br />&middot; <a href="http://ydr.mycapture.com/mycapture/lookup.asp?originalname=031107-PMK-11-EXPLODE.jpg">Order photo reprint</a><br />
Jun 19, 2007 — The City of York is telling the property owners affected by a massive explosion on the city's west side that they must pay the bill for the buildings' demolition.

The cause of the March 10 explosion on the 900 block of West College Avenue was never determined.

Witnesses described the explosion, which destroyed several homes, as a giant fireball that quickly put itself out.

Fire officials said there was too much damage to find the cause.

The city contracted Washington & Dowling Contractors Inc., a local firm, to tear down two-and-a-half buildings left standing but severely damaged because of the blast.

The firm charged the city, and - after some time, according to one owner's bill - the city passed the cost along to those displaced by the blast.

The cost was split up among the roughly half-dozen property owners involved. Paul Stoeckle, who owned Mike's Nut Shop at 961 W. College Ave., said he got his share by fax from the city: $26,000 for demolition and $500 for sidewalk repair around his former building.

Don Hoyt, city solicitor, said the owners should have had insurance on the buildings and enough to cover disasters.

"It was a fair amount," Hoyt said, considering it was an "emergency" situation. "It's the cost to tear it down."

Stoeckle said Kendra Hunter, the city's deputy director of permits, planning and zoning, asked him just after the explosion whether he had a preferred demolition firm.

He did not.

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"I really don't keep a demolition contractor in my Rolodex," Stoeckle said jokingly.

City officials brought in their choice, and the contractor tore the buildings down and cleaned up the sites and surrounding sidewalks.

Today, a few dirt lots and a sign indicating Mike's Nut Shop's new location mark where the five buildings stood.

According to correspondence from Hunter to Stoeckle, Hunter contacted Stoeckle with a fax May 25 stating she was passing along Washington & Dowling's bill to Stoeckle.

The bill was dated as coming from the contractor to the city on March 28.

"I just started laughing," Stoeckle said from his makeshift office and nut warehouse on Pennsylvania Avenue.

He said his insurance covers only $10,000 worth of debris removal costs, and he doesn't think the city gave him enough choice in the matter before bringing in its choice for demolition.

Hunter forwarded all questions about the matter to Hoyt when reached Monday afternoon.

Hoyt said Monday the property owners have had more than three months to get on their feet. He said if they don't pay, the issue could go to court.