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An out-of-town owner rehabs rotting home
Mold remains a concern for neighbors
CANFIELD
A home just days away from demolition was saved by its out-of-town owner, who is making strides toward bringing it up to par.
The home at 33 Kirk St., owned by Joe Merando, was the subject of several conversations during Canfield City Council meetings for more than a year.
The property was in violation of several zoning regulations ranging from high grass, weeds and debris to a sinking, caved-in roof, destroyed siding and a rotting smell permeating the neighborhood.
Mike Cook, city zoning inspector, said he sent several nuisance notices to alleviate the issues, with no response or action.
But days before demolition, Merando had a team working on a new roof for the structure.
Merando met with council to save the home from demolition – blaming his ignorance of the issues on lost mail.
Together, Merando and council members set deadlines and requirements for the property to bring it up to code. The requirements include mold abatement – both inside and outside the home.
Neighbors raised concerns about the mold, fearing it wasn’t being handled with the required care.
Neighbor and frequent city council attendee Sharon Brown said her concern with the house being rehabilitated is the safety of the home and those surrounding it because of the mold issue.
“My concern is what it will do to my neighborhood when they empty out what’s in that home,” she said. “What is it going to do to the families? Or to people who buy that home? And what is it going to do if children live in that home?”
At a July council meeting, neighbor Barb Fisher said she was concerned not only with the quality of the company in charge of the mold abatement, but also for the health of those living near the home.
“You have old people with no air conditioning and a baby in that neighborhood. They really need to have a choice to get out of there if they choose to,” she said.
City Atty. Mark Fortunato said as part of an agreement with Merando, city officials are to be notified three days in advance to the mold abatement so they can let people in the neighborhood know.
Brown expressed concern about the effects of mold spores going airborne, something that can happen if a window is opened.
“This needs to be done properly or the house won’t be safe,” Brown said. “The dangerous part of that home is not the outside – it’s the inside of it.”
Brown said ideally she’d like to see the house taken down safely, fearing similar issues will continue in the future.
At the least, she would like to see an ordinance passed by council involving condemned homes so the issue doesn’t persist in other neighborhoods.
“You can’t imagine what it’s like when people take away the sanctity of your home,” she said. “He’s destroyed the property value by letting the house sit there and rot away, and he destroyed the property values of everyone around him.”
City Manager Joe Warino said since their meeting with Merando, the home has been re-sided, the grass and weeds have been cut and the windows were replaced.
Councilman Joe LoCicero said the property is looking great on the outside and he’s excited to see its progress moving forward.
There is no word, however, on when the inside of the home will be abated for the mold.