Boardman man wages war on vacant homes, nuisance properties

BOARDMAN — A two-story residence at 269 Erskine Ave. on Boardman’s north side is one of 151 vacant township homes.

Overgrown shrubs conceal the front porch and a chunk of wood is missing from the garage door.

“My father-in-law says you can’t buy the whole street,” said Ken Neese of Erskine Avenue with a smile. Neese, a 12-year resident of the street, had purchased another vacant Erskine property and demolished it in February.

But Neese isn’t sure he can afford to purchase the 269 Erskine property. Many of the 151 vacant homes in Boardman are on the township’s latest list of 263 nuisance properties.

Neese worries about the vacant property — that it will attract prowlers and increase crime on the street. It’s a concern shared by many township residents.

“People do call,” said Jason Loree, township administrator. “... We get the neighbors who come up and say, ‘Well, they just left the house.’ We’re seeing a lot of it throughout the county: foreclosures, people just walking away.”

For the complete story, see Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com