The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Housing code enforcement hits home
Councilman, mother involved in case on housing docket
As Lorain ramps up building code enforcement efforts, Ward 2 Councilman Dennis Flores said city leaders and staff should accommodate those who need help fixing their homes. Flores, his mother and their house have become involved in a case on the Lorain Municipal Court housing docket. On June 27, 2018, a city inspector mailed a notice to the house stating it had failing siding and needed a railing for its front porch steps. In August 2018, the city prosecutor’s office filed the case alleging Flores’ mother, Anna Cruz, the legal owner of the house, had inadequate protective treatment on the outside and was missing handrails and guards. A court hearing scheduled for Feb. 6 was postponed until April 17, but Flores discussed the case while at City Hall that day. He also shared copies of the court records dealing with the home. The citation dealt with siding missing from the peak of the front of the house, Flores said. He said he purchased cedar shake shingles and installed them in response to the city. His dogs also were tied to the front porch railings and pulled those off, although the railings have since been replaced, Flores said. Cruz bought the home in 2013 for $9,000, according to Lorain County Auditor’s records. Flores said he is purchasing it from his mother as a fixer-upper to live in or possibly sell when he retires. He added he intends to comply with city orders to make repairs and will continue work once the weather improves. As a city councilman and resident, Flores has become known for photographing houses in his ward and passing the information along to the city Department of Building, Housing and Planning. But that effort deals more with vacant and abandoned homes, Flores said. When city inspectors cite houses owned by seniors on a fixed income, the residents may have to hire someone to make the repairs, Flores said. They can’t possibly comply with orders for paint or roof repairs that add up to thousands of dollars, he said. “I understand both sides of the issue,” Flores said. “I think we need to have a viable solution for those other citizens that are on a fixed income. We can’t just keep pinching them.” The city also should not issue citations that create multiple court cases in hopes of getting fines or repeat court costs from residents, he said. The problem of affordability already exists, Flores said, and he predicted it will grow. In October 2018, City Council considered a plan to add staff and supplies to expand the city housing docket from 150 cases a month to 500. Law Director Pat Riley prepared an estimate stating such a plan could cost $125,000. If the city dedicates more money for housing code enforcement, there is a chance the efforts will pay for themselves through additional court costs and fines. Council called for the spending in the city’s 2019 city budget, so more property code enforcement will come in the city. Last fall, Flores said the increased enforcement would be a step in the right direction for Lorain. But he also noted the financial hardship that may follow. “I dig it that we are going to do something about it, but we have to understand that the people on a fixed income or suffering the most, those are the people that I feel sad for,” Flores said at the time. On Feb. 6, Flores said he still supports the city enforcement efforts, but also feels for residents in need. For his own court case, Flores has hired attorney Michael Duff. Flores noted not all residents can afford to pay for a lawyer on top of repair costs. Inside the house, Flores said he replaced the furnace, hot water tank and upper floor windows. It will take thousands of dollars more to restore the house, he said, estimating it is 114 years old. “I love the woodwork in the house,” Flores said. “The woodwork is beautiful; the wood on the staircase is original. It’s in good shape.” Incidentally, 212 W. 18th St. inspired a historical search to find the writer of pages that Flores found while renovating the home. Lorain historian and blogger Loraine Ritchey serialized that story, “History Mystery - Her Name Was Clara,” in her online blog about Lorain history, politics and other issues.