Hearing officer backs Geneva in blacksmith shop shrink-wrap flap

A hearing officer ruled in favor of Geneva against owner Shodeen, which sought to have the developer remove a white plastic shrink wrap from a limestone remnant of a circa 1843 blacksmith shop.Adjudicator Victor Puscas issued his order Thursday, following the last hearing on Oct. 15, and required the $750-per-day fine to continue.At 742 days as of Thursday, Oct. 29, the fine against Shodeen is now $546,750.Mill Race Land Company LLC is the legal entity developer Shodeen Development created for the former Mill Race Inn site at 4 E. State St., Geneva. The developer has been at odds with the city over the condition of the blacksmith shop remnant.The dispute over the condition of the historic structure began June 20, 2024, when the city wanted Shodeen to make the structure weather-tight for winter, as required by Geneva’s 2003 property maintenance code.The city wanted Shodeen to put a tarp on the roof.Last spring, Shodeen covered the building entirely in white plastic, prompting the city t