Saturday, June 22, 2002
The 50 signs display the name and address of the property owner and declare the house condemned.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- If a sense of responsibility isn't enough to persuade property owners to care for their houses, city officials hope embarrassment will be.
Mayor Hank Angelo and Bob Pinti, deputy health commissioner, posted the first of 50 signs on condemned houses Friday. The signs declare that the house has been condemned and display the name and address of its owner.
"The only way it seems we can reach some people is to embarrass them," Angelo said.
People who own property in the city have a responsibility to their neighbors and to the community to maintain their property, officials said.
At the Union Street house where the first sign was posted, the grass is overgrown, windows are broken and trash and debris clutter the back yard.
The vacant house is owned by Victoria J. Taylor of Champion, according to Trumbull County property tax records and the city. Taylor couldn't be reached.
Neighbors
Sonia Lynn Taylor, who lives next door, stood on her front porch with her family, watching the activity.
"It should very much help," she said. "It's just one house and it makes the whole street look bad."
Sonia Lynn Taylor, who is not related to the property owner, has lived in her home for about five years. Some trash and debris from the vacant house is creeping onto her property, and she's fed up.
She sometimes sees people going into the house and wonders what they're doing inside, but she's afraid to say anything out of fear for her children's safety.
Steve Jackson, who lives across the street, isn't sure whether the sign will make a difference.
"They should bring a bulldozer in," he said, adding that the house has been vacant about six months.
Jackson was mowing his well-manicured lawn with its flower beds and landscaping as city officials posted the condemned across the street. He's lived there about 16 years.
"We try to keep it up," he said of his property. "This isn't a bad neighborhood."
Sending a message
Angelo said the 50 houses set to be posted are spread throughout the city. All of them are vacant.
"We want them to either fix it up or tear it down," he said of the message to the owners.
Once a house is condemned it's placed on a list for demolition, but that can take a long time.
Angelo said Pinti is researching to see if the city's ordinance can be changed to include fines.
"The signs are very visible and easily readable," Pinti said. "It gives neighbors the identity of who owns the home."
Condemnation of a house also prohibits trespassing. Police can arrest anyone on the property.
Police Chief John Mandopoulos said posting the signs at the homes is a good idea, but it will take a joint effort between police and residents to keep drug dealers or vagrants from going into the vacant homes.
Neighbors have to call police when there's a problem at a vacant house.
"The citizens still have to be involved," he said.
dick@vindy.com