Mount Vernon News

MOUNT VERNON — City officials appear to be making good on their plans to crack down on dangerous buildings, and will tear down some of the condemned buildings in the coming months.

Mount Vernon Safety-Service Director Dave Glass said a handful of structures that qualify as dangerous or dilapidated buildings, according to the city’s ordinance on the subject, were recently condemned by the city’s Dilapidated Buildings Commission. The buildings are at 118 Cassil St., 616 N. Clinton St., 202 1/2 S. Gay St., 208 E. Hamtramck St., 900 W. High St. and 402 W. Gambier St.

“We’re tired of dealing with them,” said Glass. “With some, we know the owners are not going to make the repairs. We feel we’ve given them more than enough time.”

Glass said he wouldn’t say city officials are trying to make examples out of these properties, but he does want property owners to know city officials are serious about cracking down on recurring problems.

Helen Priest, the owner of the home at 118 Cassill St., a home damaged in a January fire, has appealed the commission’s decision to tear the building down, according to Glass. The appeal is scheduled for May 27. He said the fire had been under investigation, but the process has simply drug on for too long.

Priest could not be reached for comment.

The city received $14,322 from Priest’s insurance company. Glass said, that by law, the city has the right to keep the money in the event the house is not repaired and the city has to pay to have it torn down. If the necessary repairs are made to the structure, the money would be given to Priest.

According to Glass, this is the first time in many years that such an appeal has been made.

Glass said there are various levels of condemnation — it could be just a portion of the building, or the entire building — and a condemnation notice does not necessarily mean the property will be torn down. The Hamtramck Street property, for instance, needs to have its porch repaired, which the owner has agreed to do. The property on West High Street just changed hands, Glass said, and the new owner plans to make the necessary repairs.