Ashtabula Housing and Community Development

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Demolition News
Fri May 11, 2007 at 01:15:45 PM
Posted By:JJ

Last year under an initiative to get the housing stock cleaned up in the city of Ashtabula, the Community Development department worked diligently to locate and tag houses that had multiple exterior violations. These homes were scattered throughout the city and were causing an extreme blight in the community, a danger to the public and decreasing property values around them. It was apparent after walking in and around the homes that many of them had been vandalized, a haven for wild animals and vermin and had been used as a hideout for drug use because of the drug paraphernalia found among them. Over 60 homes were tagged in all, with 13 being condemned through the courts. The good news is that several owners who had seen the signs on their house and received letters stating the condition of the homes began to fix them up. Even better news is that through the Formula Grant that the HCD department received in the fall of 2006, most of those 13 homes will be torn down this year. The demolition of the structures is expected to start in June of 2007. Not only is the grant money for demolition, but the remainder will go for code enforcement activities in certain targeted neighborhoods and administration money for the staff to perform these functions. The decrease of blight in our community, along with the removal of these homes will help to eliminate the amount of places used as hideouts for crime as well as vermin. The exterior code enforcement is currently in full-force again to get people to start fixing up their homes by early summer.

The current demolition address list that will be ready to come down in June are as follows:

3811 Ann Avenue
1530 West 8th
3505 Station Avenue
901 West 38th
615 West 29th,
5608 West Avenue

Two houses that were on the former demo list are now being renovated with our approval and will be fully up to code shortly. They are:

5703 West Avenue
1022 West 51st

Garage Initiative
Thu Feb 08, 2007 at 06:51:50 AM
Posted By:Jason

Under Manager Cantagallo’s initiative to clean up the City of Ashtabula, the HCD department is going after dilapidated garages, sheds and other small structures next. Our inspectors have created the template letter that will be sent to such owners in violation of the respective ordinances and Executive Director Strong is mapping out the strategy for the process by Wards and certain areas. As inspectors Vincent Iarocci and James DelPriore find a structure, they will give the address to superintendent of public services Dom Iarocci who will in turn give the HCD department a price for the city to remove the structure. The HCD department will then fill the amount in the letter and send it to the owner. The owner has the option to allow the city to perform the work for the price quoted or secure their own contractor. The structure must be razed or repaired (if allowed) within 60 days of receipt of the letter. The owner also has the right to appeal within ten days if they feel they cannot comply or do not agree with the orders. If the owner appeals, they will go in front of the “housing appeals board” who will hear the case and decide if the appeal should be granted or not. The letters will start to go out the first part of February. Property owners should read over the ordinances of both the City of Ashtabula and the International Property Maintenance Code to become familiar with their responsibilities of property maintenance. It goes without saying that all structures should be secured, in good working condition, free of deterioration, paint or other proper covering. This is another great project that will go a long way in reducing blight in our neighborhoods as well as hideouts for crime and vermin.