Bruce Towers issues must be fixed, or else

Lorain city officials are right to order the owners of Bruce Towers to improve the living conditions for its residents and reduce crime, or they will do everything they can to shut it down.

The city has gone to Lorain County Common Pleas Court against the two-building 46unit apartment complex at 5001-5003 Oberlin Ave. due to poor living conditions and rampant crime there, including two fatal shootings in May.

Residents and businesses nearby, along with the lawabiding citizens who live in Bruce Towers, shouldn’t have to put up with the negativity at the apartment complex.

Lorain attorney Robert Gargasz, who represents Ohio Multi-family LLC, the ownership group, said in court Sept. 9 that the needed repairs at Bruce Towers apartments will take place.

However, Lorain Law Director Pat Riley said during the hearing that public safety, not just building violations, remains a concern for officials.

The Sept. 9 hearing was a follow-up proceeding 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.

Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James L. Miraldi, who is presiding over the case, said based on the lawyers’ discussion, there is progress to improve the living conditions in the two buildings.

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

If living conditions have not improved and crime continues to manifest at Bruce Towers, the city must proceed with trying to close down the apartment complex.

And Riley has given valid reasons because the city’s “overwhelming concern” is safety and crime.

He spoke on recent Lorain police reports, including shots fired and burglary, that there was no slowdown in crimes of violence since the first hearing on Aug. 3.

That’s an enormous problem.

Riley also pointed out that before the court action, there was no resident manager and the ownership group was non existent.

He also acknowledged that there is progress now, because the city went to court.

Building conditions can be corrected, which Gargasz indicated will happen.

But, crime is the concern. Gargasz told Miraldi the owners would allow Lorain police to park a patrol car to boost security at any time and would work with detectives to investigate incidents.

Gargasz also believes that if a police car is out in front, the drug dealers might just keep on moving.

That’s where Gargasz is wrong.

It’s not the city’s responsibility to maintain a cruiser at Bruce Towers.

It is the duty of the owners to keep the residents safe.

The police are out there fighting crime at other problem areas and using other prevention methods to keeping people safe.

Bruce Towers must hire its own security to patrol the area.

The city won’t, and should not, post a cruiser outside of Bruce Towers unless there is an ongoing investigation.

Besides, Miraldi even admitted he could not order Lorain police where and when to patrol.

He did, however, encouraged the owners and city to work together.

Gargasz said he want the criminals out there to know that people are on the lookout for them and will be reported to the police and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

We agree with Gargasz on that.

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

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

He also said it’s not clear 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.

Gargasz 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.

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

The city has employed local social service agencies to help, but Washington added that some residents are going to be difficult to place.

But, if these issues and problems at Bruce Towers persist, Lorain officials must use their means to shut it down.