The Observation Deck

While visiting some friend's apartment buildings, I took notice of the occupancy certificates that the city posts in the lobbies. According to these certificates, many of the buildings have not been inspected since 2011.

One of my friends has been asking me to come into her apartment through the front lobby and look at what a mess it is. This building was actually inspected in 2013, although I believe they are supposed to be inspected once per year.

There was water damage on the ceilings and possibly black mold, litter, dirt, and cigarette butts on the floor, large, and gaping cracks in the walls and the door. The window in the front door was also cracked and held together with tape.

Maybe the city doesn't see the need to inspect this particular building, since it is occupied by mostly the under-served. At the end of the day, nobody should have to live like this. Why are these not being inspected once per year? What if the wiring in the building was faulty? Mold is also a public health issue. If the common areas look this bad, I wonder how the less common areas are. See pictures below:

More pictures from various apartment buildings. Notice that the one apparently has a defective meter socket. How safe is this? Also note the pictures of water damage and peeling paint in one of the building lobbies.

I went into an apartment building on Clarence the other day. In the lobby, I was greeted by a large hole in wall with what looked like wiring sticking out of it. Whether or not these wires were live, I don't know, but I didn't want to find out first-hand. I looked at the rental license hanging on the wall. The rental license expired in 2010, which means it likely has not been inspected since then. The rest of the building was dirty as well.

If you live in an apartment building, it may behoove you to pay close attention to the condition of your building and when its rental license expired. Look out for trip hazards, mold, water damage, exposed wiring, leaking ceilings, falling or damaged ceiling tiles, and fire exit doors that are locked or don't open because they are broken. If you notice violations in your building, I suggest you call the city and request an inspection. If your request is stonewalled, continue to call. Also, if your building accepts HUD funding and/or vouchers, then it must meet even stricter standards and you can also call HUD's bad landlord hotline at 1-800-685-8470.

There is also an apartment building on Riverside that has a rental license which expired in 2007. Scary.

Some of these places have not been inspected in years. I believe every rental property in the city is supposed to be inspected once per year.

Before anyone blasts, consider the following:

1. This is nothing to sneeze at. Expired housing licenses and buildings not being inspected puts people at risk. What if electrical wiring goes bad? What if there are fire hazards? Are all smoke detectors and/or fire alarm systems working? Is mold growing somewhere?

2. Is it my fault that this is the case?

There goes Lori, stirring up shit again

I'm recalling last November's election and the people who told me that, although they opposed the closing of the hospital, they voted for Mike Summers because he is doing a great job otherwise. I didn't have a response at the time, but now ... hmmmmm...

UPDATE:

I think now is the time to start exposing Summers even more for his apparent neglect of the city.

Meet this rental property on Lakewood Ave, a literal stone's throw away from City Hall. It is a four-suite, brownstone residential building.

Multiple blatant violations exist at this rental property. First, the trim all around the front door is peeling badly. Second, all of the balcony floors are peeling and appear rotted or appear to be in the process of rotting. This apartment building did not get to be in this condition overnight.
I could have posted more photos, but the limit is apparently three per post.

This property is owned by a landlord that owns close to ten rental properties in Lakewood. He lives here in Lakewood on a relatively wealthy, upper-class street.

Why is this a big deal, you ask? Rotting balconies and rental properties that are not inspected regularly are invitations to tenants or even citizens getting hurt, sick, etc. I believe city ordinance mandates that every rental property is to be inspected once per year.

Article II, Section VI of the Lakewood Municipal Charter states the following:

The Mayor shall be the chief conservator of the peace within the City; shall supervise the administration of the affairs of the City; shall see that all ordinances of the City are enforced

Also, the Division of Building and Housing is part of the Department of Public Safety. The Department of Public Safety is headed by Summers.

I also have a friend that lives in a rental property here in Lakewood. For over a year, they have had black mold growing all over their bathroom. The landlord does nothing and said mold is suspected to be making her and her children ill. Are these rental properties really being inspected once per year?

Summers is ultimately in charge of seeing that all ordinances of the city are enforced. That is not my opinion, it is the law. There are laws against peeling, rotting balconies and mold growing in bathrooms. Is Summers really looking out for the health and safety of the residents? Should anyone really trust him? What happens if the someone gets hurt or ill? Could City Hall be held partially responsible for negligence due to not inspecting properties? Is it being done on purpose so Summers & Co. can allegedly steal more properties?

We must put a dent in this man and his company's crusade. Vote against Issue 64 on Nov. 8th.

The tenants are partially to blame, for not complaining, for not calling in a complaint to the building department. Why would anyone want to live in those conditions, they have something to hide? I don't know, If a complaint is filed, an inspector is supposed to come out and view the situation, if there are hazards, a letter is sent to the owner, he has 30 days to comply, in 30 days another inspection is made, if no corrections have been made, then there is a summons to appear in housing court.

But if inspections were done annually, mandatory, then these violations would be documented and said action should be taken, if not, then someone is not doing there job? Who are we paying for not doing there job?

Meet this rental property on Chesterland near Athens. This particular rental property was not in good condition when I was walking for Skindell last year. Last year, the front door (not the storm door) to the downstairs unit had many of it's small windows broken out, leaving several openings for insects and rodents to enter the unit. Also, anyone could have stuck their hand right through the broken window openings and opened the door from the inside. Burglars rejoice!

A little over a year later, the property has deteriorated even more. For at least a few months now, the landlord has allowed the downstairs front porch roof to be held up with a metal jack post. Who knows to what extent said porch roof is damaged. How is this safe? Also, the storm door to the upstairs unit has its glass broken out and the same storm door also appears as if it cannot close.
According to public records, this property is owned by an orthopedic surgeon from Springfield, Ohio. This landlord also owns other properties in Lakewood: one on Clifton near French, one on Lakewood Ave., and one on Hopkins.

Again, is Summers ensuring that city ordinance is followed? Are these rental properties really being inspected once per year? Isn't this apparent lack of rental inspections possibly putting tenants and possibly neighbors at risk?

Article II, Section VI of the Lakewood Municipal Charter states the following:

The Mayor shall be the chief conservator of the peace within the City; shall supervise the administration of the affairs of the City; shall see that all ordinances of the City are enforced

Also, the Division of Building and Housing is part of the Department of Public Safety. The Department of Public Safety is headed by Summers.

This is also John Litten's ward, perhaps he should be walking the streets south of Madison more often.

This 4-unit apartment building on Clifton hasn't been inspected since 2000, according to the certificate in the lobby. The license expired on 12/31/01, almost 15 years ago.

Why are these rental properties not being inspected? This could be a big deal and it could be putting residents and even neighbors at risk.

Again, it all ultimately falls on Summers. Summers is the Public Safety Director and the Division of Building & Housing is part of the Department of Public Safety. Summers is also charged with the task of overseeing the daily operations of the city and ensuring that all ordinances of the city are enforced.

Of course, look who the owner of this apartment building is...

The housing license has nothing to do with the inspection. The city has stopped issuing that type of license.

Then that obviously shows that the buildings are not being inspected. Why are expired or obsolete licenses being permitted to be displayed? Also, many buildings also do not have licenses posted in the lobby or entrance, which is also a violation. The photos on this thread obviously show that many of these buildings are either not being inspected or are not being inspected adequately. Rotting porch floors and porch roofs are obvious violations that do not take a certified building inspector to notice. The photos will continue to be posted as I find more violations, to show that this is a trend.

1306.45 ISSUANCE OF LICENSE.

The Building Commissioner shall issue the license applied for if the building and the uses to which it is intended to be put are found to comply in all respects with this Code and all other laws and ordinances. Such license shall be posted at the main entrance of the building for which it is issued.

1306.46 CONTENTS OF LICENSE.

Every housing license shall clearly specify the name and address of the person to whom it is issued, the name and address of the owner of the building for which it is issued, the location, the number of dwelling units therein, the number of rooming units therein, the maximum number of roomers permitted therein at any one time and such other information as may be required by the official charged with the enforcement of this Code.

This sounds like the same license that is inside this apartment building. If the ordinance was changed, please post city council meeting minutes, the city council housing committee meeting minutes, and other relevant documentation that supports and substantiates the fact that these types of licenses are no longer used. The above quoted ordinances were just accessed today, 10/6/16 through the city's ordinance publisher. If an ordinance is changed, that would have to go through city council.

Then that obviously shows that the buildings are not being inspected. Why are expired or obsolete licenses being permitted to be displayed? Why are the new license types not being posted? Also, many buildings also do not have licenses posted in the lobby or entrance, which is also a violation. The photos on this thread obviously show that many of these buildings are either not being inspected or are not being inspected adequately. Rotting porch floors and porch roofs are obvious violations that do not take a certified building inspector to notice. The photos will continue to be posted as I find more violations, to show that this is a trend.

1306.45 ISSUANCE OF LICENSE.

The Building Commissioner shall issue the license applied for if the building and the uses to which it is intended to be put are found to comply in all respects with this Code and all other laws and ordinances. Such license shall be posted at the main entrance of the building for which it is issued.

1306.46 CONTENTS OF LICENSE.

Every housing license shall clearly specify the name and address of the person to whom it is issued, the name and address of the owner of the building for which it is issued, the location, the number of dwelling units therein, the number of rooming units therein, the maximum number of roomers permitted therein at any one time and such other information as may be required by the official charged with the enforcement of this Code.

This sounds like the same license that is inside this apartment building. If the ordinance was changed, please post city council meeting minutes, the city council housing committee meeting minutes, and other relevant documentation that supports and substantiates the fact that these types of licenses are no longer used. The above quoted ordinances were just accessed today, 10/6/16 through the city's ordinance publisher. If an ordinance is changed, that would have to go through city council.