Scott Swanson
A half-completed duplex that’s sat nearly untouched for 15 years on the corner of Juniper Avenue and 5th Avenue is coming to life and is on the verge of being available to renters.
Work on the structure began in 2005 by Duane Bergevin, now of Utah, who built it on the site of a home owned by his parents.
Neighbor Rob Younger, who has lived across the street since the early 1980s and was friends with the senior Bergevins, said Duane was building the duplex for his brother Vern to live in, with the plan of renting the other side out.
Construction stopped in 2006, following the death of Duane’s son in a traffic accident following his discharge from the Marines in San Diego.
“Duane, from that day on, never put another minute into it,” Younger said.
Palmer Vilagi of Philomath and partner Brian George of Albany purchased the property last October as it was about to be foreclosed for property taxes.
“They were just running out of time,” Vilagi said.
The two have finished the home, mostly working on it themselves, in the interim and a sale to a Brownsville-based investor, who plans to rent it out, is set to close momentarily, he said.
Vilagi said he and George got a chance to take a look at the structure before they purchased it.
“When we got there, it was all vandalized he said. The back door was open, so we went in and looked around.”
The place was framed and there was rough plumbing, and the roof and gutters were on. The subfloor was in and there were bathtubs installed in a couple of the bathrooms in the two-bedroom, 1½-bath units, which are 1,218 square feet each, and have attached two-car garages.
“Thankfully, a lot of stuff was still in good shape.”
He said they had to bring some things up to code – including rewiring most of the house, which had been stripped of its electrical system by thieves. They also redesigned the interiors a bit.
Vilagi said he and George have had “a lot of people” stop by to check out what they’re doing – “potential buyers who knew the story, and people who say they’re really glad we’re finally doing something about it.”
City Engineer Joe Graybill, who has watched the property throughout its entire saga, said city staff are “very happy” to see the building nearly finished.
“It’s been empty, derelict, partially rebuilt, then damaged, then partially rebuilt, then damaged for a long time. This is the third reconstruction. This particular building, we’re very happy it’s coming back alive.”
Younger acknowledged that the structure was an “eyesore.”
“Every once in a while we had to call law enforcement because a window was open. Who was in there?”
Now, he said, “We look out the window almost hourly just to see what they’re doing. It’s painted. They put in rockwork. It looks so much better. It’s a great addition.”