Prior to 1987, a private owner owned the Curtis Block Building. From 1987 to 2016, Lakewood Hospital Association owned the building. In February of 2016, LHA gave the building to the City of Lakewood.
In the almost 30-year period that LHA owned and was in control of the Curtis Block Building, it is quite obvious that nobody was doing upkeep on this historic building. A recent, exterior-only inspection revealed numerous code violations at the Curtis Block Building.
It is also crucial to mention that there is a red, single-story building on Marlowe behind the Curits Block Building. This is on the same land parcel as the Curits Block Building. Therefore, LHA was also responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of this building. The address on this building is 1408 thru 1414 Marlowe, I believe. It appears that it was once used for physician's offices. This building also has numerous code violations.
Please see the video below for photographic evidence of these code violations. These photos were all taken within the past week.
In conclusion:
1. Since the City of Lakewood is now in possession of the property, it is crucial that they repair the code violations ASAP to preserve the historical building.
2. Again, LHA was in control of these two buildings for almost thirty years. If this same group of players want us to trust them with our healthcare and our city's future, perhaps they should show it by taking care of their properties.
3. Why did the City of Lakewood accept the building back in this condition? Hmm....
4. Who was supposed to be doing inspections for the past thirty years?
5. Perhaps they are hoping to let it deteriorate so it can be deemed a nuisance and bulldozed.
FWIW.