The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Board slates 9 houses to demo
Five more to be inspected
Nine houses, or what was left of them, were condemned as unsafe, unsanitary and unfit for human habitation in the Jan. 21 meeting of the Lorain Demolition Board of Appeals.
Meanwhile, the city will hire an inspector to seek out asbestos and possible hazardous materials in more homes that could be torn down, according to action from the city Board of Control on Jan. 20.
The Demo Board resumed its deliberations and ordered the razing of structures because they are abate nuisances to public health and safety in the city.
At least four properties had piles of rubble,
the ruins of houses that burned.
They were at 3890 Lexington Ave., 334 W. 23rd St., 400 W. 23rd St. and 2380 Apple Ave., a house that was condemned in 2018 while it still was standing.
On some of those sites, people continued to dump additional trash and debris there, so the piles continued to grow, said Housing Rehabilitation Administrator Greg Landry.
Landry presented photographs showing exterior and interior conditions of houses that were vacant.
But some had signs people were staying inside or possibly loading the homes with garbage and debris.
Lorain Safety-Service Director Sanford Washington presided over the meeting.
The board includes representatives from the city Departments of Fire, Building, Housing and Planning, and Engineering, along with Lorain County Public Health.
The board votes were unanimous.
The condemned homes were:
• 906 Dewitt St. Property taxes owed are at least $12,836.63.
The house had plant overgrowth outside.
Inside there were holes in the subfloor, debris, graffiti, damaged cabinets and a hole beneath the toilet.
• 3421 Livingston Ave. Property taxes owed are at least $15,770.92.
The house was loaded with trash, with floorboards starting to warp and buckle, the ceiling failing and raccoon feces visible on the second floor.
Daylight was visible through the roof next to the chimney in the attic.
“And again, just extremely filthy, just debris everywhere,” Landry said.
• 3890 Lexington Ave. Property taxes owed are at least $8,193.81.
• 2213 East 32nd St. Property taxes owed are at least $950.44.
The house had front porch columns leaning.
Shingles, paint, appliances, doors, sheets of plywood piled inside and there was a grill next to its stove.
“We just could not navigate much through this house,” Landry said.
The inspectors could not get into the basement safely due to the items piled inside, he said.
• 334 West 23rd St. Property taxes owed are at least $16,544.75.
“This is another easy one, it’s another pile of rubble,” due to a fire, Landry said.
• 338 West 23rd St. Property taxes owed are at least $720.34.
An entrance ramp was damaged due to a chimney falling on it.
Inspectors could not get into the basement; the living area had furniture, mattresses and debris stacked inside, with the toilet ripped out.
• 400 West 23rd St. Property taxes owed are at least $8,444.44.
“There is quite a bit of debris here,” Landry said.
• 346 West 23rd St. Property taxes owed are at least $4,717.51.
Some windows were boarded up; a fence and the rubble to the left of the building blocked inspectors from getting to the rear of the structure, Landry said.
The dwelling showed signs of someone squatting inside, he said.
Cabinets were ripped out and the kitchen sink was lying on the floor, and there was standing water in the basement.
• 2380 Apple Ave. Property taxes owed are at least $1,324.04.
“This is another easy one,” Landry said. “We have a lovely pile of rubble, once again due to a fire.”
The fire burned so hot it melted siding on a neighboring home, with damage still visible as of Jan. 21.
Board of Control
On Jan. 20, the Board of Control, made up of Mayor Jack Bradley and Washington, approved spending $2,430 for environmental inspections on five residential buildings under review for demolition.
The inspections are required for demolition by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The inspections will take place at five houses, said Max Upton, director of building, housing and planning:
• 2528 E. 37th St., which is a high priority for Ward 6 Councilman Rey Carrion, Upton said.
• 1225-1227 W. Second St., a duplex that has windows broken out.
• Two houses on Caroline Ave. that have become eyesores in an otherwise stable neighborhood.
• 2475 Apple Ave. Federal block grant money given to the city will pay for the inspections.
Once the demolitions are completed, the city will foreclose on the vacant land.
When the city owns it, the vacant land can become sites for new affordable owner-occupied or rental homes, Upton said. 2213 E. 32nd St. 338 W. 23rd St.
On some of those sites, people continued to dump additional trash and debris there, so the piles continued to grow, said Housing Rehabilitation Administrator Greg Landry. Landry presented photographs showing exterior and interior conditions of houses that were vacant. But some had signs people were staying inside or possibly loading the homes with garbage and debris.