A contractor demolishes a West Outer Drive home that city officials allege has had code violation problems for a decade. (Photo submitted by City of Oak Ridge)
Demolition work started Monday at a West Outer Drive home that Oak Ridge officials say has had code violation problems for a decade.
“The owners refused to comply with repeated requests to bring the property up to code,” a city press release said Tuesday.
It said the Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals declared the home at 759 W. Outer Drive unfit for human occupation and ordered it demolished in June 2011.
Performed by a contractor, the demolition work could be complete by Wednesday, with the lot restored to a clean and useable condition, the press release said.
It said the Oak Ridge Office of Code Enforcement began addressing violations at the property in 2001.
“The property has been before the Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals in 2002 and again in 2007 for non-compliance with housing code violations,” the release said. “The city has routinely mowed the grass and responded to numerous complaints, with no cooperation from the owners of record or responsible persons.”
A picture submitted by the City of Oak Ridge shows the West Outer Drive home before demolition.
The city said there are public and private liens against the property exceeding $19,000. That doesn’t include more liens for the demolition work.
The release said the property owners will be billed for all work performed by the city. If the bill is not paid within 30 days, the city will place a lien against the property as required by law, the release said.
Funding for the demolition comes from the city’s nuisance abatement code enforcement fund.
Another picture shows the home after demolition.
Angi Agle says
It’s a 0.15 acre lot, appraised at $15,000. Looks like the lienholders, including the city, will take a hit on this one. That said, removing blighted properties is still the right thing to do.
Mike M says
Keep the bulldozer engine running. Much more work to do in Oak Ridge.
native oak ridger says
Who is the property owner?
Carol D says
The tax payment records are public and it looks like a bank may own it, although nothing is shown after 2008. Tax payments were made until 2008.
Steve D says
http://www.cortn.org:8000/taxes/PropertySearchResults.php Then enter the address.
BYRNE WILLIAM KENT
This is what the CORTN website shows as the owner with 4 years of deliquency. Total tax bill of $1062.52 plus at this point.
B Smith says
Let’s see, the code enforcement office began addressing violations at the property in 2001, the Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals declared the home unfit for human occupation and ordered it demolished in June 2011, and it was finally demolished in July 2012. That is an unacceptably long time frame, not the least reason because while all of this due process was taking place the neighbors had to put up with this horrendous eyesore.
Is there no way for citizens to protest the owner’s irresponsibility? Is there no legal means by which neighbors can sue for the pain, suffering and financial loss (viz., loss of property value) caused by the owner’s negligence?