Facing demolition, the owner filed an appeal. He’s scheduled to have his say in front of the city on Nov. 20.
By Joshua Bowling | Arizona Republic
Ron Hassid wants to sell the long-vacant Smitty’s grocery store on Grand Avenue in Peoria for a profit, but the city is pushing him to tear it down.
Peoria says he has failed to fix safety concerns with the boarded-up building, which city documents call “neglected, damaged, dilapidated” and a safety hazard.
Hassid says there are no structural problems that require an immediate fix.
The old Smitty’s anchors a largely vacant strip mall at the entry to Old Town Peoria that some say symbolizes the struggle to revitalize the area.
