The Worst “House” in Aurora!

Neighbors on Moneta Ave. have been wondering what is going on with this run-down slummy eyesore at 1178.  Building permits were issued three years ago and the house still looks terrible.. How would you like to look at that every day?  Would this be permitted in other neighborhoods? It is owned by a Chagrin Falls resident! (click the pic for a closer view)

Rich Wehernberg, Aurora’s Planning, Zoning & Building Director & Residential Chief Building Official told Olive:
“There are currently open building permits on 1178 Moneta allowing the construction you see going on there. The residential building code, which is mandated to us by the State of Ohio, provides no expiration date for permits and in fact does not allow us to revoke any permits as long as some work is done every six months in furtherance of the permits. The work is proceeding slowly, but the pace of completion is as allowed by law.

That being said, the applicant has been very cooperative when we have approached him with our concerns or a complaint from the public. In the past, for example, he has cleaned up the site and organized his building supplies in an acceptably neat manner when asked to do so. Most recently, in response to our request, he has agreed to provide us with a timetable for completion of the exterior of the house.”

Councilman Jim Vaca has received many complaints and inquiries from Geauga Lake residents about the structure. “I and they want something to be done, he said, “but there has been little progress in the past three years. The house is in a state of deterioration, the tyvek is ripped off by the wind and the structural elements are exposed to the weather.”  He added, “I’d like to see this timetable he’s promised.”

This house looks worse than when the Chagrin Falls resident bought it, and brought his plans to ABR. His intent was to improve the property and sell it, but it has become an eyesore. The situation with this house need attention from City Council since it is a nuisance and ought to be the subject of legal action by the city.  In these lean times we ought to be doing everything we can as a city to keep up our housing stock.  The city has ordinances on the books which could clean up this mess of a house.

IMHO,    Here’s what council could do:

 From the city code

1325.04  UNSAFE STRUCTURES; VIOLATION AND REMEDIAL  NOTICES; COST RECOVERY.

(a)     Legislative Findings.  Council finds that:

(1)     Structures which are vacant and open to entry at doors, windows or other points accessible to the general public:
A.     Attract children to enter;
B.     Become harborage for vermin;
C.     Serve as temporary abode for derelicts, vagrants and criminals; and
D.     Are likely to be damaged by vandals or set ablaze by arsonists;
E.     Unkept grounds surrounding such vacant, open structures invite the dumping of garbage and rubbish thereupon;
F.     Such vacant, open structure often become dilapidated because they are not repaired by the owners or persons in control of the structures;
G.     Structures that are vacant and open to entry depress the market value of surrounding properties.
(2)     Structures in some areas of this City are situated on narrow lots and in close proximity to one another, thereby increasing the risk of conflagration and spread of insect and rodent infestation.
(3)     The existence of certain hazardous conditions may require a structure to be vacated; such conditions include but are not limited to:
A.    Danger of structural collapse;
B.     Inadequate heat or use of dangerous heating mechanism;
C.     Danger of fire; and
D.     Lack of plumbing in safe working order.

(4)     Structures that remain boarded for an extended period of time contribute to blight, cause a decrease in neighboring property values, create targets for arson, and lead to the cancellation of homeowners’ insurance for neighboring property owners.

(3)     Maintenance.  Upon effectively boarding the structure, the owner shall monitor and maintain the structure and its surrounding premises in a safe, sanitary and secured condition.  Any portion of the exterior structure which is deemed to be potentially hazardous due to deteriorated conditions, or to be structurally unsound shall be removed or treated in such a manner so as to eliminate the hazard.  The exterior premises shall be maintained free for high weeds, debris, junk vehicles, and conditions that may provide harborage for rodents.  Failure of the owner to properly maintain the building in the above condition, will result in the structure being deemed a public nuisance, and scheduled for demolition.

(4)     Rehabilitation.  Rehabilitation of the structure shall commence within ninety days of receiving a rehabilitation permit.  If rehabilitation of the effectively boarded structure does not commence within this time period, or if the rehabilitation permit is otherwise invalidated or revoked, then the Building Inspector may declare that the nuisance has not been abated and schedule the structure for demolition.

(d)     Examination and Condemnation.

(1)     The Building Inspector is authorized to examine or cause to be examined every building or other structure reported to be unsafe or damaged or injurious to or a menace to the public, and shall make a written record of such examination.
(2)     The Building Inspector may designate as a public nuisance those particular structures or conditions found to be unsafe pursuant to subsection (b) hereof.
(3)     The Building Inspector may also declare that a nuisance structure which, due to its advanced state of dilapidation, substantial fire damage or structural infirmity, is an immediate hazard to human life or health, may only be abated by immediate repair and rehabilitation to the minimum standards of the most recent adopted Codified Ordinances of Aurora, Ohio, 1992, applicable City rules and regulations, the Ohio Revised Code, and Ohio Administrative Code including the Ohio Building Code, or by demolition.

And there is more in the code, the city can demolish the structure.  The City of Aurora has the tools to address this structure, or is this ok with the community?

Is there a worse looking structure in the city?