AUBURN — Councilors will let a Gamage Avenue tenement stand a while longer as they work to get federal help knocking it down.

Councilors agreed Monday to delay a vote on paying for the demolition of 9 Gamage Ave., scheduling a second demolition hearing.

Councilors approved the demolition of the tenement in June, but the property was purchased by the Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae, in November.

“My concern is Fannie Mae could say they were not the owner of the property when this was noticed for demolition,” Councilor Adam Lee said. “It’s a risk that concerns me, the litigation risk that could put us in the best position to recoup the demolition expenses.”

Councilors agreed, asking staff for a new demolition hearing later this year. They would authorize the city to pay an estimated $45,000 to demolish the building and then try to get the federal agency to repay that money.

The 2½-story apartment at 9 Gamage Ave. was destroyed in a fire a year ago. It had been vacant for some time before the fire and copper thieves had looted the buildings plumbing and electrical wiring.

The city has been working with former owner Christopher Dymkoski and mortgage company SunTrust Mortgage to bring the property down since June.

staylor@sunjournal.com