YOUNGSTOWN Home demolition subject of debate

A lack of money remains a main reason many properties stay on demolition lists.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Not enough money and too many hassles.
The same reasons as always explain why too many dilapidated homes are still standing, said Mike Damiano, city demolition director.
Little changed Wednesday as Damiano talked with city council about demolition.
The department ran out of money in September 2000 and received its $480,000 budget only in May of this year. All the money will be spent by year's end, he said.
But that isn't good enough, said Richard Atkinson, R-3rd.
Dilapidated properties shouldn't be sitting next to new homes built by nonprofit agencies, he said. The demolition department needs to speed up its process, he said, and city street department crews that tear down fire-damaged homes have to get more done.
Long title searches: Damiano said title searches take at least a month and many times longer, delaying the process. Damiano would like to work with more than one title company, but the law department won't allow it, he said.
"The law department doesn't get elected," Atkinson countered, pointing to citizen complaints to council. "The process is killing us."
Damiano agreed but also pointed to a lack of money as another reason properties remain on demolition lists.
His department contracts out demolition of 25 properties at a time, targeting properties on main streets, near schools and near the new nonprofit houses. Many contracts are ready but have no funding.
"It comes down to the old thing called money," Damiano said. "We're knocking them down as fast as we can."
Councilman's response: Demolition needs to tell city officials before the money runs out so they can look for more and avoid delaying the process, said an angry James E. Fortune Sr., D-6th.
Action is needed now, he said.
There may be $50,000 to $60,000 more available for demolition, said Finance Director Barbara Burtner.
Damiano would like to knock down the backlog of homes and then deal with about 40 homes a year that crop up and 20 or so other fire-damaged properties.
Then, the department could focus more on code enforcement, he said.
rgsmith@vindy.com