The Observation Deck

Nearly one year has passed since City Hall demolished “Nick's” vacant commercial building at 13351-53-55 Madison Ave. Over the past year, very little has been done with the property.

To refresh everyone's memory, City Hall claimed that they could not locate an address for Nick to forward correction notices, court summons, and other city materials to him. I was able to almost immediately call City Hall's bluff, as several addresses were located for both him and Brian, including a home address in Avon. Also, consider this. Mr. Summers is a Board Member for First Federal of Lakewood Savings & Loan. Nick took out mortgages for this now-demolished property from First Federal of Lakewood Savings & Loan.

According to public records, the property is still in the name of K&S Development, which is evidently the business name for Nick and his apparent business partner, Brian. Also according to public records, Nick & Brian have now accumulated over $90,000 in delinquent property taxes for their now-demolished property at 13351-53-55 Madison. To my knowledge, the pair also owe City Hall $60,000 in demolition fees, which would bring their grand total to roughly $150,000.

What would happen to most of us if we allowed one of our properties to become so dilapidated that City Hall had to demolish it, didn't pay the $60,000 demolition fee, and already owed almost $100,000 in property taxes to boot? More likely than not, our property would be foreclosed on, we would be in jail, or both.

Not Nick & Brian, apparently. I have confirmed that Nick is still going around town flipping houses for profit. He recently flipped a house on Blossom Park, and has now purchased another home to flip on Ethel. Why is Nick being issued building permits to flip homes in Lakewood when he apparently owes City Hall $60,000 in demolition fees and almost $100,000 in property taxes? Why is City Hall permitting this?

Nick also owns numerous commercial rental properties along Detroit & Madison. It is my understanding that if someone is this far in debt to City Hall and the county, that their rental licenses could be pulled or their rental income could be garnished. However, Nick has not been taken to court for any of these owed funds, according to court records.

It is difficult for me to recall a situation as bizarre as this. In a nutshell, we have a person that is in debt over $150,000 to both City Hall and Cuyahoga County, yet they are permitted to go on their merry way, apparently without facing consequences. Meanwhile, City Hall is taking middle-class, hard-working folks to court over five cents owed on income taxes. No, that is not a typo or an exaggeration.

I am beginning to wonder if Nick & Bryan's property could possibly be some type of slush fund or front for dubious dealings by City Hall and/or the county.

By the way, this has little to nothing to do with Land Banks, so it deserves it's own thread.

Let it be known that as of today, October 11th, 2017, Nick and Bryan (alleged friends of the mayor) still owe $96,946.20 in property taxes on their now-demolished, vacant property at 13351-53-55 Madison Ave.

Let it also be known that City Hall hired C&J Demolition to demolish this property last September. City Hall created an affidavit stating that Nick & Bryan now owe $60,000 to the city for demolition fees.

Thus, Nick & Bryan are in debt $146,946.20 to both Cuyahoga County for property taxes and City Hall for demolition fees.

I called the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Office last week to inquire as to why nobody is going after Nick & Bryan for owing all of this money. Nobody could give me an answer.

Meanwhile, Nick goes on his merry way, making money off of flipping properties in Lakewood. Why are his earnings/wages not being garnished? Why have no court cases been filed against Nick & Bryan for all of this owed money? What would happen to any of us if we owed almost $150,000 to City Hall and Cuyahoga County? We would either be in court or in jail.

This reminds me of another property here in Lakewood. The taxpayers footed an enormous bill to demolish a property that the owner had evidently neglected for over 30 years. Now, neither the City nor County appear to be going after the delinquent owner for money owed. Rather, the owner appears to use the now-vacant land to go mudding on with a four-wheeler that is always parked on the property.

This is your money folks. This is money that could go mostly toward our schools (which are probably almost in the hole by now), but also to other improvements. This appears to be a gross example of cronyism. These folks are evidently robbing the public blind, and they are not being held accountable.