Hilltop landlord cited for code violations

HOUSING /

The city has cited a Hilltop funeral director for code violations at 15 of his rental properties.

Owner Robert Spears Jr. said the rental properties will be “100 percent guaranteed fixed” before his April 18 court date.

“I am not the kind of person that’s going to run away from it,” Spears said. “I really haven’t done anything wrong.”

Many of the homes are

close to the Jerry Spears Funeral Home on West Broad Street, where Spears is a co-director.

“I bought 26 boardedup, completely unlivable houses,” Spears said. “I really want to see that area thrive. I want to see that area get better.”

Assistant City Attorney Kristen Dickerson said community complaints are what drove code-enforcement officers to look at the houses. The violations, filed this month, included missing downspouts, mortar voids in foundations and chimneys, peeling paint, rotting porches and an “accessory structure not maintained in a rat-proof manner.”

A resident at one of his South Eureka Avenue rental properties, Von Snowden, called Spears a “slumlord” for not making timely repairs, including a sinking kitchen ceiling.

Snowden said he and his wife stopped paying rent in January because Spears wouldn’t make repairs. The front porch had a missing board on its deck. He said he has received an eviction notice.

Spears said the couple is five months behind on rent — close to $3,000. “That’s why it’s not fair,” Spears said of the “slumlord” comment. “At some point, you are going to have to take care of your responsibility here.

“I am not a slumlord. I feel

653-655 S. Burgess Ave. 29 N. Eldon Ave. 70-72 S. Eureka Ave. 2730-2732 Grace St. 240 S. Hague Ave. 343-345 S. Hague Ave. 100-102 N. Harris Ave. 109 N. Harris Ave. like I’m an easy target.”

In response, the city’s Dickerson said: “That’s no excuse for a tenant to live in those conditions.”

The property had been cited for other things: vehicles parked on the lawn and inoperable vehicles, plus prohibited storage. She said code enforcement has tried for months to work with Spears.

Eric Grimes has lived at and made improvements to a house that Spears owns on North Harris Avenue. Code inspectors cited it for a rotting front porch, missing windows and loose siding.

“I try to work with him,” said Grimes, who said he wanted to buy the house from Spears.

Spears is a former Greater Hilltop area commissioner and has bought most of the houses since 2012, according to Franklin County auditor’s office records. The homes are in his name and also in the name of Spears Real Estate. One of the houses is in the name of his wife, Sarah Spears.

Robert Spears’ attorney, John Gleason, said a lot of the issues are tenantrelated. “Oftentimes, you get disgruntled tenants. It always seems to be somebody else’s fault. Bob knows what needs to be done.”

“Our plan is to demonstrate that all the work that needs to be done can be done,” Gleason said.

Gary Baker, president of the Columbus Board of Education and a former Hilltop commissioner, said Spears is committed to the Hilltop. “I understand that some of his properties need continual upkeep,” Baker said.

“We have kind of a soft spot for the Hilltop,” Spears said. “I would have to be out of my mind to buy houses in that area and treat people terrible.”