With its roof collapsing and intruders often finding their way in, a high-profile former mill on Minot Avenue is posing a threat to public safety, city officials said, and they want the owner to improve the building before its condition worsens.

Ahead of a hearing on the issue Monday, city staff said they were forced to secure the building at 67 Minot Ave. on Aug. 29 after finding an unsecured ground-level window and evidence that people had recently been inside.

When they couldn’t reach the building’s owner, staff said they obtained an emergency inspection warrant to enter the structure, where they said they saw water pouring in through the roof and found the building’s condition had worsened significantly since an inspection in 2024.

The City Council unanimously agreed Monday that the action taken by staff was warranted, and approved an order allowing staff to secure the structure when needed.

David O’Connell, Auburn’s fire prevention officer, said he’d like to see the owner meet specific benchmarks for improvements, especially heading into winter, where snow load could make the roof condition worse.

A representative for the building’s owner, Miracle Enterprises LLC, told officials that an employee who had been the point of contact for the city is no longer working for them, which caused a communication breakdown. He said when the owner was made aware of the situation, they flew to Maine from Hong Kong for the hearing, and is willing to work with the city to “rectify the situation.”

The owner also told city officials they would still like to redevelop the property.

In 2015, The Barn and two adjoining parcels were part of an ambitious $40 million plan backed by Chinese investors to create a health and wellness hotel aligned with Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. The “medical tourism” project, which envisioned wealthy Chinese citizens visiting to obtain American medical procedures, never materialized for several reasons.

The three parcels were listed for sale in 2019 for $5 million, but are still owned by Miracle Enterprises.

Eric Cousens, director of public services for Auburn, said given the condition of the building and history of fires, staff would also like the ability to clear or remove vegetation “to improve visibility for security and reduce fire loads” next to the building.

O’Connell said there have been at least three fires there, including most recently in 2024. In one instance, vandals stripped copper and wire from the interior and set fire to a boiler. A transient encampment in the rear of the building also caused a fire there, he said.

Cousens said the conditions inside make entering the building unsafe, with a “high chance you fall through an opening from one floor to another.”

“It seems to me that staff did the right thing based on the circumstances, so I support the action they took,” Councilor Steve Milks said.

Cousens said a court order obligated Miracle Enterprises to improve the structure, but the work has only been partially done.

An attorney representing Miracle Enterprises sent a letter to city officials earlier this month arguing that the evidence presented to the council “does not support a finding that the structure is a serious threat to public health or safety.”

“No individual or abutter has been harmed as a result of the current state of the structure,” the letter states, adding Miracle Enterprises “has not abandoned the structure, and has in fact installed exterior lighting and boarded-up the structure to ensure the safety of the public.”

According to a council memo, the council’s approval of the order Monday will allow Auburn to invoice Miracle Enterprises for the cost of securing the structure, and if not paid, assess a special tax.

The four-story brick factory was built in 1908, with additions in 1912 and 1914, and was home to the Lunn & Sweet Shoe Co.

Miracle Enterprises also owns 81 Minot Ave., a former car dealership, and 1 Minot Ave., the former Auburn police station.