Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, ApriL 10, 2026 Tackling the Town Eyesores A seldom-used town bylaw regulating the security and maintenance of vacant and dilapidated buildings could help Saugus remove years of blight By Mark E. Vogler T hat rundown two-story red building distinguished by red boxes containing red Xs and plastered with graffiti located on Route 1 South just before the Main Street exit heading toward Wakefield looks like something you might see in a poor part of Eastern Kentucky. The dilapidated structure at 1181 Broadway, which once housed Karla’s Shoes, has been an elusive eyesore going back to the 1990s – a major embarrassment that has left Saugus town officials feeling frustrated and helpless to deal with for years. But a petition drive initiated by residents in a Precinct 7 neighborhood calling on the town to enforce a seldom-used bylaw (Section 516.00) to clean up a vacant and dilapidated house has sparked a wider discussion of eliminating other eyesore properties across Saugus – particularly the old Karla’s Shoes building. Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian, who assisted in crafting the petition for residents in the Susan Driver neighborhood, briefed selectmen at their March 24 meeting on the history of bylaw 516.00, which regulates the security and maintenance of vacant and dilapidated buildings. At the end of his presentation, Manoogian These rundown steps at 31 Susan Drive pose a safety risk to anyone approaching the front door of the vacant and abandoned home. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) told selectmen “there are a number of abandoned properties” throughout town, while citing Karla’s Shoes as the one “We all hear about.” “All of these properties should be registered so the town has a handle on what’s happening with issues such as public safety,” Manoogian said. In an interview this week, MaNearby residents worry this broken trampoline in the backyard of 31 Susan Drive poses a potential safety risk to kids who might come into the yard to play on it. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) THE PAESANI CLUB ANNUAL POLENTA PARTY ANTHONY’S OF MALDEN 105 CANAL STREET MALDEN, MA. 02148 THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026 6:00PM COCKTAIL HOUR SAVE THE DATE! LA MORA CONTEST FEATURING SAL “THE GOLDFISH SWALLOWER” BARRESI noogian told The Saugus Advocate that he believes that bylaw 516.00 empowers the town to address the abandoned house A NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERN: 22 residents who live in the area near 31 Susan Drive signed a petition with Building Commissioner Michael LaVecchia of the Inspectional Services Department and Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli requesting that they enforce town bylaws to remove graffiti and address potential safety and health concerns at the vacant and deteriorated property. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) on Susan Drive as well as the decades-old saga of Karla’s Shoes. “The tools are definitely in place,” Manoogian said, referring to bylaw 516.00. “In fact there was one [an abandoned property] in Precinct 10 a number of years ago on Wendell Street.” “That property was torn down and a beautiful new home was built improving the neighborhood,” he said. At the March 24 Board of Selectmen’s meeting, Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Anthony Cogliano followed up on Manoogian’s recommendation to do a complete inventory of abandoned properties in town. Cogliano asked Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree to get an update on all of the properties in Saugus where the Fire Department placed Xs on the buildings, referTOWN EYESORES | SEE PAGE 10 Birthdays are special at the Senior Center MARCH BIRTHDAYS: The Saugus Senior Center recognized 17 residents who celebrated their birthdays collectively at the Senior Center last month. Pictured from left to right: Front row: Sandra Milano, Dawn Northrop, Betty Desimone, Marylou Graham, Denise Benevides, Linda Dall, Marie Halstead, Abettina (Dell) Morano (101 years) and Jackie Landry; back row: Barbara Strong, Julia DePlacido, Donald Strychalski, Ed Lyons, Chuck Swain, Richard Stranieri, Janice Nolan and Joanne Genzale. (Editor’s Note: Saugus Senior Center Director Laurie Davis submitted the following article.) T he Saugus Senior Center held its monthly birthday celebration on Friday, March 27. This month’s celebration was generously sponsored by Sandra Milano in honor of her 87th birthday. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Sandra for her generosity and kindness in helping make the day so special for everyone. The Senior Center likes to recognize the Senior’s birthday on the last Friday of the month with a collective celebration. Each birthday recipient receives a free pizza lunch, cake, ice cream and a souvenir group photo. If anyone would like to sponsor a birthday in honor of someone special, please stop by the office and let us know.
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