Home on Gladys Avenue Condemned, Boarded Up
The police took the homeowner into custody on Tuesday for numerous citations — and an effort to remove him from the home.
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The city of Lakewood condemned a Gladys Avenue home after building and housing officials determined it to be a safety hazard.
The walls are bowing out. The rear addition is detaching and falling from the home. In one night, the roof collapsed after a structural beam in the basement buckled.
Those are just a few of the reasons for the city's nuisance declaration.
“We’ve got kids who live next door,” said Kevin Butler, the city’s law director.
The police took the homeowner into custody on Tuesday for numerous citations — and in an effort to remove him from the home at 1214 Gladys Avenue.
The windows and doors were boarded up and the property was declared a nuisance under city ordinance.
Butler said the home will likely be demolished.
According to the nuisance declaration, there have been several inspections of the property.
“The owner failed, neglected, or refused to comply with previous correction notices,” according to the filing. “This structure has been deemed unsafe to occupy.”
The homeowner has 10 days to appeal the city’s finding.
“Every so often we have to issue a nuisance to a home, and a lot of times we have to knock them down,” said Butler. “This is an unusual one because it’s not already vacant and abandoned. Most of them are bank-owned and are vacant and abandoned.”
Brandon Scullion
9:43 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
This is so sad. Such a lovely house it was.
Due to the amount of time the city has had to invest in inspections of the house, as well as the problems the neighbors have had to deal with, I hope Lakewood seeks compensation from the owner.
Tamara Bako
10:11 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
It really is a shame that this house has come to it's demise. Unfortunately, a lot of home owners don't have the funds required for major structural issues (especially with the up & down of the economy and job market) and home ownership is costly. So sad when it comes to this. :(
Phospholipid
10:13 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
The fact that the owner was carted off for institutional psychiatric care probably obviates his ability to appeal.
Susan Kaminski
11:14 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
My new favorite show is Rehab Addict with Nicole Curtis. She takes houses like these and brings them back. Too bad she's in Minneapolis!
What a great looking house and Gladys is a nice street, too.
OWNER
1:02 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
To Phospholipid:
Why did you say I "was carted off for institutional psychiatric care"? I was simply taken to the police station so the judge could see me. I was released and not charged with anything. Why are you spreading this falsehood and where did you come up with it? My mental state has never been questioned.
M-F Schreiber
11:17 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
When neglect of a property reaches this level of nuisance, the owner either has financial or, in this case, mental problems. Sad either way for the owner and the neighborhood. However, if demolition is final option, the property looks like a perfect opportunity for a lot split, providing neighbors with additional yard space.
m west
12:35 pm on Thursday, January 31, 2013
If you put the address in google maps, it looks like the roof is gone off the back of the house . The garage looks funky too but it's hard to tell.
TCrane
2:05 pm on Thursday, January 31, 2013
I happen to live directly across the street from this house. The homeowner does have some mental and physical ailments. We all knew that the house was deteriorating and that he needed help, and some people tried to help him. He would usually get angry and confused, so my hope is that he is recieving some psychiatric help. I wonder what will happen with the lot after it is demolished.
Susan Kaminski
2:27 pm on Thursday, January 31, 2013
That's a sad story. And he will be left with nothing after the house is torn down. An empty lot.
OWNER
12:59 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
To TCrane:
Physical problems yes, mental no. No one has ever tried to help. So why do you say I would "get angry and confused" when offered help. But I was never offered help by you so why do you say this? Please be truthful. I have someone that will correct the problem with the house. I have had health problems the last 2 years. Cleveland Clinic billing last year was over $87,000. I am waiting for them to schedule one more operation.
Alex Vandehoff
7:40 am on Thursday, April 18, 2013
Looks like there was someone to correct the problem - he just happened to be operating a bulldozer.