Bruce Towers improvements coming

Court grants time; city argues apartment complex is trouble spot

The ownership group will make needed repairs at the Bruce Towers apartments on Oberlin Avenue, a lawyer for the company said.

However, public safety, not just building violations, remain a concern for Lorain’s administration and staff, city Law Director Pat Riley said.

City workers and attorney Robert Gargasz of Lorain, representing Bruce Towers owner Ohio Multifamily LLC, convened Sept. 9 at Lorain County Common Pleas Court.

It was a follow-up hearing to the city’s lawsuit filed by the Lorain Law Department for city Safety-Service Director Sanford Washington.

The city administration is seeking a court order to clean up conditions so bad the city officials argue the buildings are a nuisance to public health and safety.

Based on the lawyers’ discussion, there is progress to improve the living conditions at the 46 units in two buildings at 5001 and 5003 Oberlin Ave., said Judge James Miraldi.

Miraldi set another hearing for Oct. 28 for the city and owners to report back on more progress.

Based on the lawyers’ discussion, there is progress to improve the living conditions at the 46 units in two buildings at 5001 and 5003 Oberlin Ave., said Judge James Miraldi.

Tough on crime

The city’s “overwhelming concern” is safety and crime there, Riley said.

Based on Lorain police reports including shots fired and burglary, there was no slowdown in crimes of violence since the first hearing of Aug. 3, he said.

Before the court action, there was no resident manager and the ownership group was non existent, Riley said.

There is progress now, because the city went to court, he said.

“The main reason why we are here, judge, is the safety of the activities that are going on here,” Riley said. “The building conditions can be corrected.

“The operation, the human dynamic that is occurring there is what really needs to be addressed. I am not in a position to say to the court the city is any less concerned today, because we’re not, and the occurrence of those unfortunate circumstances is occurring at no less frequency than it was a month and a half ago.”

Gargasz said the owners would allow Lorain police to park a police patrol car to boost security at any time and would work with detectives to investigate incidents.

“If the drug dealers, when they come around, they might see a police cruiser, they might just keep on moving,” he said.

Miraldi said he could not order the police where and when to patrol, but encouraged the owners and city to work together.

“We want the criminals out there to know, judge, that we’re on the lookout for them, and we’ll report them to the police and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law,” Gargasz said.

“That sounds good to me, Mr. Gargasz,” Miraldi said.

Building conditions

A contractor was hired to ensure the building meets city fire regulations and has sanitary conditions and property repairs, Gargasz said.

There is “undeniable” progress to address fire hazard concerns for residents, Riley said, citing an inspection that day by city fire Assistant Chief Greg Neal.

Chief Building Official Jose Pallens also found some building conditions were being addressed, Riley said.

It was unclear if pesticide was being applied properly to eliminate roaches and bedbugs while keeping people safe, but that could be checked by Lorain County Public Health sanitarians, he said.

Gargasz asked if a city inspector would visit the units with the construction team to explain what repairs are needed.

He also proposed renovations in one side of a building, then the other, for efficiency for the contractor and so tenants would have a place to stay.

There are times when things need repair in the units, but tenants don’t inform the management about those, Gargasz said.

So far, it appeared six tenants moved and up to 25 were informed about resources available to help them relocate, Riley said.

The city has employed local social service agencies to help, Washington said.

That has helped, but some residents are difficult to place, he said.

Some tenants are people dealing with issues such as chronic homelessness, Riley said.

One worker from the Nord Center asked if residents could break their leases to move.

The law allows landlords and tenants to break leases in some circumstances, but it would be better to do so by mutual agreement, Miraldi said.

RICHARD PAYERCHIN — THE MORNING JOURNAL Lorain attorney Robert Gargasz, seated at right, speaks in a Sept. 9, Lorain County Common Pleas Court hearing about conditions at Bruce Towers, the Oberlin Avenue apartment complex that Lorain city officials are targeting due to crime and living conditions. Seated at left are Lorain Safety-Service Director Sanford Washington and city Law Director Pat Riley at far left.

MORNING JOURNAL FILE Above and below: The city of Lorain has filed a lawsuit seeking the have the owners pay for residents to move and then shut down Bruce Towers apartment buildings on Oberlin Avenue. The city is seeking to enforce laws about the level of crime and property code violations there.

MORNING JOURNAL FILE