MOUNT VERNON — Some neighbors in the north end of the city are unhappy about the state of the recently condemned property at 160 Mansfield Ave., a house damaged in a fire back in 2003.
Elizabeth Walls, who lives on Northgate Drive, said many of the neighbors who live near the property find the poor state of the house and property unacceptable, adding that it has been an eyesore for about five years. She said neighbors are unhappy because home prices are already on a downward slide, and having a property like this one nearby serves to lower the value of their own homes even more.
“The house needs to be torn down,” she said. “It’s something the city needs to do.”
Walls said the basement has water in it, which causes her concerns about West Nile virus, with Faith Lutheran Preschool and Dan Emmett School close to the house. The basement windows are boarded up, but Walls said varmints can still get in and out.
Walls said she feels she is speaking on behalf of many of the residents who live in the area of the property, and plans to come to Mount Vernon City Council’s meeting Monday to let council members know something needs to be done. She said she knows the city’s code enforcement officer, Larry Fogle, is working to resolve the situation, but said city officials need to take action as well.
Property owner Robert Montgomery said he understands the concerns the neighbors have about the property, adding that he would probably feel the same way. He said he has been working with the city to get the situation resolved, and has made efforts to keep the property maintained.
Montgomery also said that for a long time after the fire, he was under the impression the house was owned by the bank that held the mortgage. It was supposed to go through the foreclosure process, he said, but the bank never allowed it be sold. Since then, he has had problems getting the bank to work with him to get the property sold, even though there have been prospective buyers. Only recently has he been able to work with the bank to sell the property, and he said he expects to be able to sell the house soon. He added that he wants to get the situation resolved and move on.
Fogle said he considers the property a “minor eyesore.” He has been working with Montgomery, and recently set up an inspection of the inside of the house. The Dilapidated Buildings Commission members will take a tour inside the house immediately following their August meeting. Fogle said that although the property does meet the criterion of a dangerous building and has been condemned, one of his major concerns is the mowing and maintenance of the grounds, which have been a problem in the past.
Asked about neighbors’ concerns, he said, “The city is just as frustrated as they are.”
Future action by the city will depend on what is found during the inspection, Fogle added.
