Photo provided A photo from a condemned property at 342 Pence St. provided by Columbus Code Enforcement.
By Andy East | The Republic
The Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety has taken action to address four homes on the city’s east side that officials said are unfit for habitation, including one home that contained a few dozen cats and another whose owner is attempting to avoid a fine.
Board members on Tuesday approved requests to condemn, vacate and demolish two homes on South Cherry Street.
One of the homes, located at 462 S. Cherry St., was found to have no glass on the windows, holes from termites on the building’s exterior and the foundation was in “poor condition,” officials said following an inspection by city code enforcement officers.
City officials said that a disabled veteran had been living in the home, which had no electricity or water service, but were unable to make contact with him on the day they inspected the property.
Code enforcement officials said they hope to make contact with the veteran in the next couple days. He reportedly has a sister he may be able to stay with.
“The house is not livable,” said code enforcement officer Erika Smith.
Board members also approved a request to condemn and demolish the home next door, located at 452 S. Cherry St. Code enforcement officials said they had determined in January that squatters had been in the home and were using a generator for electricity.
City officials attempted to inspect the property but “the smell was extremely strong” likely due to dogs inside the structure.
“I wasn’t able to physically walk in there,” Smith said.
The two homes are owned by the same person, city officials said. Because the homeowner does not have financial means to rehab the homes, they will be demolished at the city’s expense and a lien will be placed on the properties, officials said.
The money for the demolitions will comes from the city’s safe housing fund, officials said. The homeowner hopes to sell the land once the homes have been demolished to pay the liens.
Board members then voted to condemn a home located at 332 Hege Ave. that had come to the attention of city officials after Animal Care Services received reports of a large number of cats on the property.
City code enforcement, along with Columbus police, Animal Care Services and the Bartholomew County Health Department, inspected the home and found around 42 cats and “a lot of cat urine,” including mattresses “soaked with cat urine” that children allegedly were sleeping on, officials said.
The children were removed from the home, and Animal Care Services has been working with other organizations to remove the cats, as Animal Care Services does not have the space for a few dozen cats, officials said.
Code enforcement officers said they are working with the homeowner to bring the home into compliance with code and that the condemnation order can be lifted if the home is up to code.
After approving those three requests, board members heard an update from homeowner Brad Grayson, who is attempting to avoid being fined after city officials determined that a home he owns at 342 Pence St. was in “deplorable condition.”
In late May, the board voted to approve a condemnation order and a $7,500 fine for the but later voted earlier this month to reduce the fine to $2,500 after city attorney Alan Whitted learned that the maximum fine for this kind of situation under city code is $2,500.
Code enforcement officer Fred Barnett previously described the residence as “one of the worse houses I’ve seen in Columbus on the inside,” with “everything from animal feces to garbage,” as well as holes in the roof and floors.
“It’s in deplorable condition. Deplorable. One of the worst I’ve ever seen,” Barnett said earlier.
City officials said their attention was drawn to the house after receiving a complaint from a neighbor with small children who reported that the home had been vacant for around two years and was attracting mice, rats and snakes to the area.
Grayson, along with his attorney, provided the board with updated photos of the home and a letter from an exterminator in an effort to get the city to suspend the fine and lift the condemnation order.
However, Grayson wound up arguing with city officials over whether screens had been installed on the home’s windows, which officials said was required in order for the condemnation order to be lifted.
Barnett said he looked at the exterior of the home Tuesday morning before the meeting and found that there were no screens on the windows.
Grayson disputed Barnett’s account, at one point saying, “I’ll refer you to the photos.”
“(The screens) weren’t there this morning,” said Barnett, who then showed board members some images that he took on his cellphone earlier Tuesday morning.
Grayson then said, “the windows were closed and locked for security purposes” and directed board members to look at the pictures he supplied as evidence that screens had been installed.
Then, Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop, who is on the board, interjected, saying “I don’t see screens on these photos,” referring to the photos that Grayson provided.
“We still have some issues,” Lienhoop said. “There are supposed to be screens on the windows. (Barnett) didn’t see any screens. I want him to see screens.”
The board then voted to defer consideration on whether the fine should be waved and condemnation order be lifted until next week’s meeting.
At one point during the meeting, board member John Pickett said he would not be in favor of waving the fine because Grayson likely is “the landlord that has come before us the most” due to issues related to code enforcement.
“I have witnessed evasive answers to pointed and direct questions,” Pickett said. “…And I have witnessed argumentative behavior. And because of the pattern and because of the replication of this going on, I’m taking the stance that I’m against waving the fine, and I will be voting that way. I think the fine needs to be enforced. I’m only sorry it couldn’t be the original amount.”
