1626 Ionia: It's Coming Down, maybe, maybe not.

[Springfielder]

So we have a SPAR board member that is currently in process of demolition by neglect? This is why we have been saying SPAR needs to go- the whole board and start over. That should be enough to kick them off right there!

I couldn't agree with you more! I know that I will not rejoin until every member, and I do mean ALL board members step down and allow the neighborhood to vote. The organization needs a complete make over, and IMO, nothing less will suffice. The organization is out of touch with what the community wants/needs.

If any of the current members feel they are worthy, then ask to be elected in a fair and responsible method, not through appointments, not through a slate election. This isn't to say that there's not board members who shouldn't be on the board, there are...but let's let the neighborhood decide.

[cindi]

Geez, you guys didn't get the memo, the carwash and boarding homes are 100% responsible for their neglect. As for this being a good reason to have them removed - think about the group you are referring to - these actions will almost certainly guarantee a promotion of some kind.

[iloveionia]

Okay. What did I miss?
I need some clear, concrete facts.
Who is demolishing by neglect?
Address?

[sheclown]

This house is headed for Special Masters on the 4th of October.  Most likely "rolling fines" will be imposed.

Preservation SOS has been working very hard to board and secure this property.  The main house is almost in broom swept condition (the basement still needs cleaning out).  The windows are being boarded.

It will be sad to see this house get the heavy burden of rolling fines.  These fines go with the house.

[acme54321]

I just don't understand why the city does not take and auction off these properties instead of bulldoze them.  It makes no sense.

[Demosthenes]

^ That's a great point. the 1998 Auction was a huge stimulus to the community.

[sheclown]

Its violations:

*frame wall has cracks in it
*mold
*sewer or drain is leaking or in poor condition
*lacking frame wall cornerboards or other moulding
*facia bargeboards are deteriorated
*eve soffit material is deteriorated
*ceiling has holes and cracks
*ceiling is unsanitary
*failure to provide paint
*step or stair treads deteriorated
*wall has holes
*walls are not sanitary
*wall plaster is debonding
*countertop is detriorated
*interior door does not operate
*insect infestation
*failure to maintain interior of structure free of rubbish
*termites
*no smoke detectors
*electrical light improperly wired
*rubbish in dwelling
*subfloor deteriorated
*waste water not disposed of properly
*basement not provides with rodent-proof shield
*window sash not weathertight
*in violation of electrical code
*in violation of plumbing code
*unfit for habitation
*cost of required repairs expected to exceed 50% of blidg's accessed value (so if repaired must meet new code)
*unlawful accumulation of junk on premises
*structural members are overloaded and pose threat to public safety
*structure is standing open
*structure has inadequate light, air

[SpringFizzle]

Administrative Liens - Code Enforcement \ Office of General Council have serious procedural problems.

I'll try to make a long story short.

1. I began renovating a house. The further into it I got, the more problems I found. I spent tens of thousand of $ on new siding, paint, porches, windows, foundation, roof framing and roof. The house looked fine from the street and was secured. It was still completely gutted on the inside but structurally sound.
2. I went to all the Special Master hearings except one. I found that notice in a mud puddle only after the hearing was over. SM always said "Good progress. Keep going".
3. I went to a SM hearing Sept 09. Explained that I had just resolved some property line issues and was in the process of refinancing to separate the project house from another property I had (my primary residence). SM said "You've had enough time, $50/day fine imposed." (At the recommendation of Michael O'Laughlin-code enf)
4. Refi fell through 24 hrs before closing. The title company couldn't provide a clear title because of the fine order. The order was against all property I own. Not just the project house!
5. Existing mortgage was with a private lender and the note had come due with a final balloon payment. I had to refi. No other choice.
6. I had already had a verbal commitment from Wells Fargo to obtain rehab financing for the project house but they couldn't do that until the refi was complete.
7. The SM instructed me to talk to Bryan Mosier (Code Enf). Bryan gave me a 15 page document to fill out requesting a partial release of the lien on my primary residence. After 3 weeks, OGC finally responded with "No". No explanation given.
9. I also pointed out 3 errors in the fine order.Bryan said he would correct them but never did.
   a. It said I did not attend the hearing. In fact I did. There's a sign in sheet to prove it.
   b. It contained the correct street address but the wrong parcel# (house next door)
   c. The rolling fine started 7 months before the hearing even occurred.
8. In the mean time I spent thousands in attorney's fees trying to stave off foreclosure.
9. I got a hold of Kim Scott (Code). She said she couldn't do anything because the SM had made a ruling. She put me in touch with Cherry Shaw (OGC). Cherry said she couldn't do anything either. The project house had to be finished eventhough I was facing foreclosure, because I couldn't get the rehab loan, because I couldn't refi the properties, because of the city lien!
10. I had no other option but to sell. Which I did. Then Cherry said the city wouldn't release me from the lien until the new owners fixed the property. Now I have no legal rights or ownership to the property, yet I'm still on the hook for the rolling fines and the renovation needed?! What??!!

And what has happened to the house since I sold it 9 months ago? With a little work in the beginning, it has sat with NO PROGRESS.

Excellent job COJ! Do everything you can to screw up the lives of honest citizens trying to do something good.

[ChriswUfGator]

That's ludicrous, but sadly it happens constantly with COJ Code Enforcement.

[Bativac]

Administrative Liens - Code Enforcement \ Office of General Council have serious procedural problems.

I'll try to make a long story short.

1. I began renovating a house. The further into it I got, the more problems I found. I spent tens of thousand of $ on new siding, paint, porches, windows, foundation, roof framing and roof. The house looked fine from the street and was secured. It was still completely gutted on the inside but structurally sound.
2. I went to all the Special Master hearings except one. I found that notice in a mud puddle only after the hearing was over. SM always said "Good progress. Keep going".
3. I went to a SM hearing Sept 09. Explained that I had just resolved some property line issues and was in the process of refinancing to separate the project house from another property I had (my primary residence). SM said "You've had enough time, $50/day fine imposed." (At the recommendation of Michael O'Laughlin-code enf)
4. Refi fell through 24 hrs before closing. The title company couldn't provide a clear title because of the fine order. The order was against all property I own. Not just the project house!
5. Existing mortgage was with a private lender and the note had come due with a final balloon payment. I had to refi. No other choice.
6. I had already had a verbal commitment from Wells Fargo to obtain rehab financing for the project house but they couldn't do that until the refi was complete.
7. The SM instructed me to talk to Bryan Mosier (Code Enf). Bryan gave me a 15 page document to fill out requesting a partial release of the lien on my primary residence. After 3 weeks, OGC finally responded with "No". No explanation given.
9. I also pointed out 3 errors in the fine order.Bryan said he would correct them but never did.
   a. It said I did not attend the hearing. In fact I did. There's a sign in sheet to prove it.
   b. It contained the correct street address but the wrong parcel# (house next door)
   c. The rolling fine started 7 months before the hearing even occurred.
8. In the mean time I spent thousands in attorney's fees trying to stave off foreclosure.
9. I got a hold of Kim Scott (Code). She said she couldn't do anything because the SM had made a ruling. She put me in touch with Cherry Shaw (OGC). Cherry said she couldn't do anything either. The project house had to be finished eventhough I was facing foreclosure, because I couldn't get the rehab loan, because I couldn't refi the properties, because of the city lien!
10. I had no other option but to sell. Which I did. Then Cherry said the city wouldn't release me from the lien until the new owners fixed the property. Now I have no legal rights or ownership to the property, yet I'm still on the hook for the rolling fines and the renovation needed?! What??!!

And what has happened to the house since I sold it 9 months ago? With a little work in the beginning, it has sat with NO PROGRESS.

Excellent job COJ! Do everything you can to screw up the lives of honest citizens trying to do something good.

Stories like this make me breathe a heavy sigh of relief that my wife and I decided not to buy an old Springfield home.

I'd love to rehab one of those old houses, but not at the risk of having to go thru what SpringFizzle went thru. Yeesh.

[ChriswUfGator]

It is even more frightening when you consider that, for a long time, those of us who pointed out that this hinky stuff was going on and who shared our firsthand experiences were publicly branded "slumlords," "liars," and much worse.

But now that SPAR has been spanked and stuffed back in its cage where it belongs, all the lying and blame-the-victim games in the neighborhood have pretty much stopped. And thanks to the efforts of Gloria and others, the neverending stream of bogus fines and unnecessary demolitions appear to be coming to a halt as well.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is, now is actually a better time than any other in nearly a decade to buy in Springfield. Don't be turned off, the B.S. is grinding to a halt and is being replaced with caring neighbors.

[sheclown]

There certainly has been an attitude of punishing the investors.  I suppose the hope was that only families would buy here and not people looking to sell or rent -- the pioneers of old. 

Sort of a romantic longing.

Problem is that one should never penalize someone who wishes to plunk down some bucks making your neighborhood better.  Especially when "developers" are fawned over. 

Sure, there were "flippers" and all sorts of "evil-doers", and yet, the unintended consequences of forcing homeowners hands is spectacularly destructive.

[ChriswUfGator]

There certainly has been an attitude of punishing the investors.  I suppose the hope was that only families would buy here and not people looking to sell or rent -- the pioneers of old.  

Sort of a romantic longing.

Problem is that one should never penalize someone who wishes to plunk down some bucks making your neighborhood better.  Especially when "developers" are fawned over.  

Sure, there were "flippers" and all sorts of "evil-doers", and yet, the unintended consequences of forcing homeowners hands is spectacularly destructive.

Especially considering half of Springfield is multi-family apartment buildings.

Who did they think is going to own these, other than investors?

I guess they honestly would have preferred overgrown vacant lots.

[sheclown]

Well, what (almost) everyone would have preferred is to have these houses fixed up.  I believe the rationale behind the rolling fines was to "encourage" this.  Unfortunately this came about the same time as the economy rolled over and played dead.

So now, threatening people with economic hardship seems redundant.

[sheclown]

So I guess what I'm trying to say is, now is actually a better time than any other in nearly a decade to buy in Springfield. Don't be turned off, the B.S. is grinding to a halt and is being replaced with caring neighbors.

Amen!

This house, for example, could be had for a very reasonable price (I think 40k).  It has a basement apartment and a carriage house.  Were it my project, I would fix up the carriage house and move in, fix up the basement apartment and rent it, gather up my pennies and restore the main house.  Move into the main house and rent out the carriage house.

A place to live and two rentals.  A gorgeous lot with off street parking.  Little risk of fire b/c of the block construction, easy to paint and maintain. 

And one of the grandest old ladies in Springfield.