Vacant Buildings Board

Vacant Buildings Board
Development
Environment
Housing

Wednesday, June 12, 2024
9:00 a.m. — 10:00 a.m. EDT

View meeting details

Add to iCal

Add to Google Calendar

166 S High St. Akron, OH 44308 (Directions)

Akron Municipal Building, 3rd floor City Council Chambers

The Vacant Commercial or Industrial Building Appeals Board is a review board comprised of Akron residents appointed by the mayor. The board members review cases from the Department of Neighborhood Assistance Housing Compliance Division. Two types of cases are presented to the board members for their review: commercial or industrial properties for which the Housing Compliance Division recommends demolition and appeals of registration orders.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Akron - OH Documenters Team

Note-taking by Melanie Mohler

2 buildings get more time for needed repairs

View notes
Live reporting by Benjamin Rexroad

Board grants extensions on two buildings, one in University Park and another in South Akron

The Akronist
#Akron, I’m hereeeeee! It’s Benjamin Rexroad and I'm tweeting my notes from the Vacant Commercial or Industrial Building Appeals Board meeting held on 6.12.24 for #AKRdocumenters and @signalakron. They’re not live, but may contain some of my “in the moment” reactions.

06:42 PM Jun 12, 2024 CDT

The Akronist @akronist 2/20
Have questions? Think we got something wrong? Send any questions on the meeting or these tweets to documenters@signalakron.org
The Akronist @akronist 3/20
There are 2 types of cases presented to the board for review: commercial/industrial properties that the Housing Compliance Division recommends demolition & appeals of registration orders. Citizens can attend & speak about the properties. Here’s their link: akronohio.gov/government/boa…
akronohio.gov/government/boa…
The Akronist @akronist 4/20
In connection to the work of the Vacant Building Board, #vacant buildings are required to be registered with the city. It’s a whole #ordinance and everything. For more info: akronohio.gov/departments/ne…
akronohio.gov/departments/ne…
The Akronist @akronist 5/20
The last time I took notes at a Vacant Building Board meeting, @signalakron used MY notes to help write a story. (That’s pretty cool, right?) You can read it here: signalakron.org/board-orders-d…
signalakron.org/board-orders-d…
The Akronist @akronist 6/20
LOVE a meeting that starts on time! We started at exactly 9 am w/an approval of the minutes from the last meeting, but no role call. (How do we know who’s who?) We DID get a reading of the statement of procedure. I maintain that this is a good way to call a meeting to order.
The Akronist @akronist 7/20
Our first property is case number 0006-24 aka 1097 Bellows Street. The attached images are the property’s info from the Summit County Fiscal Office.
The Akronist @akronist 8/20
According to Jodie Forester, Sanitarian Supervisor, “there has been no compliance with orders issued against this property.” It’s vacant, vandalized, dilapidated, & not registered w/the vacant building registration. It's a safety hazard & public nuisance w/a list of repairs.
The Akronist @akronist 9/20
A man was sent from Little Ministries, LLC., the org that owns the property. He asked for an extension so they have time to speak w/counsel & address the concerns. However, he couldn't answer how the property got to be in this condition & doesn’t know much about it, in general.
The Akronist @akronist 10/20
Steve Dort (from @AkronFiredept) who was sitting with the board, mentioned that he stopped by the property and “it wasn’t secure, as of yesterday.” Forester added that if the extension is granted, one of the conditions should be that the property needs to be properly registered.
The Akronist @akronist 11/20
A board member asked for clarity: is this a request for continuance or an extension? What I understood: a continuance tables discussion for the next meeting. An extension requires that repairs on the property start. Even w/a continuance they can add requirements that must be met.
The Akronist @akronist 12/20
A continuance passed. However, 1097 Bellows needs to be secured, registered, & inspected. As a warning, a board member said that, b/c there's no August meeting, he would recommend against further continuances at the next one. Forester will provide owners w/the list of repairs.
The Akronist @akronist 13/20
Next up: review case number 0009-23 aka 259 Cross Street. Hmm… why do I know that property? THAT'S RIGHT!!! It’s because the case was part of the docket of the last board meeting I covered. You can catch up on the property's lore here: docs.google.com/document/d/1kp…
docs.google.com/document/d/1kp…
The Akronist @akronist 14/20
The repairs on 259 Cross Street have mostly been completed. Forester: “the only remaining repair would be to paint the exterior.” The owner was present to speak on behalf of the property. (Also attached is the tax info for the property.)
The Akronist @akronist 15/20
The long & short is: he said he’s having trouble w/the house next door. He feels it is in worse condition than his. He said that they are putting trash on his property, defecating next to his building, & breaking in. He’s afraid to go to the property b/c nothing is being done.
The Akronist @akronist 16/20
Forester: the Nuisance Department has an order to remove the trash. But she doesn’t believe that “the amount of trash that’s there would impede anyone from making the remaining repairs.” She added later that “the Housing Division does have orders on the house next door.”
The Akronist @akronist 17/20
A board member wanted to know if he can get the repairs done w/in 30 days. He said, “get those people out of there, I can.” He continued to express worry about them. He doesn’t want to get shot or beat up. His goal: rent or sell the property as quickly as he can.
The Akronist @akronist 18/20
In the end, he was given a 30-day extension with the requirement that the painting be completed and that there’s another inspection.
The Akronist @akronist 19/20
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 am. This concludes the #Akron #Vacant Building Board meeting for 6.12.24. The next meeting is 7.10.24, beginning- promptly- at 9:00 am. For more meeting coverage, check out akron.documenters.org
akron.documenters.org
The Akronist @akronist 20/20
REMINDER: Have questions? Think we got something wrong? Send any questions on the meeting or these tweets to documenters@signalakron.org
View thread

Agency Information

Vacant Buildings Board

See meeting notes for details

www.akronohio.gov

See Documenters reporting

The Vacant Commercial or Industrial Building Appeals Board is a review board comprised of Akron residents appointed by the mayor. The board members review cases from the Department of Neighborhood Assistance Housing Compliance Division. Two types of cases are presented to the board members for their review: commercial or industrial properties for which the Housing Compliance Division recommends demolition and appeals of registration orders.

The Vacant Commercial or Industrial Building Appeals Board monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month in Akron City Council Chambers on the 3rd?floor of the Municipal Building, located at 166 S. High Street.? Parking is available in the CitiCenter parking garage and all meter parking around the city hall.?

The meetings begin at 9:00 a.m. and continue until all scheduled cases are reviewed. Owners of the properties being considered for demolition are encouraged to attend these meetings and provide written plans and schedules describing how they will bring their property into compliance. Neighbors of the properties being reviewed are also encouraged to attend and testify about how the property impacts the neighborhood.

More from this agency

Vacant Buildings Board

Vacant Buildings Board

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

9:00 a.m. EDT

Vacant Buildings Board

Vacant Buildings Board

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

9:00 a.m. EDT

Vacant Buildings Board

Vacant Buildings Board

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

9:00 a.m. EDT

See more