City takes action on problem properties

Photos: Highland Heights residents listen to Bob Mossing, manager of code enforcement for the City of Toledo, report on our Dirty Dozen list of nuisance properties.

Bob Mossing, manager of code enforcement for the City of Toledo, attended our meeting February 16 and provided an update on our Dirty Dozen list of problem properties. Mr. Mossing personally inspected every property on our list, and reported on each one during our meeting. He also brought detailed information about city action on 38 nuisance properties in our area. We commend Mr. Mossing for his responsiveness to our concerns about deteriorated properties and look forward to continued progress.

In addition to Mr. Mossing's report, we also expressed to Councilman Michael Collins, who attended the meeting, our the need for increased police patrols, the need to end continued stagnation of the Highland Park pools, and the need for street resurfacing in our areas, particularly South Avenue between Detroit and Airport.

Mr. Collins indicated that he would check the condition of South Avenue and see whether it can be slated for resurfacing, as the city will be increasing street repairs in the coming year. He noted that police staffing is low, thanks to city belt-tightening, and increased patrols seem unlikely. He is unsure what the fate of the Highland Park pools is but has noted that we do not want to see them stay empty and abandoned. Options include repairing and opening the pools (privately or publicly) or turning them into green space.

One of the attendees asked Mr. Collins about getting handicapped-accessible curbs on her street, and he said he would follow up to be sure this happened.

UPDATE ON DIRTY DOZEN LIST

1425 South Ave. has been demolished. This property was at the top of our nuisance list, and we are pleased to say that it is gone.

1515 Wayne Street is in court.

723 Lodge is on the demolition list.

117 Ralph St. is in court.

501 S. Detroit; city has issued orders to repair and will add to demolition list in March if repairs are not made.

1120 South Ave. is on the demolition list.

171 Dale St.; city has issued orders to repair and will add to demolition list in March if repairs are not made.

1660 Wayne St. is on the demolition list.

535 Carlton; city has issued orders to repair and will add to demolition list in March if repairs are not made.

556 Carlton; city needs to reinspect

2424 Airport Hwy.; city has issued orders to repair and will add to demolition list in March if repairs are not made.

1642 Wayne St.; city has issued orders to repair.

1601, 1587 and 1585 Airline Ave. city has issued orders to repair.

--Reported by Carol Scheiber, Member Highland Heights Neighborhood Association.

Mayoral & Council Candidates Pledge Action on Community Concerns

During the October 20 Candidates Night held at Burroughs School in South Toledo, mayoral candidates Mike Bell and Keith Wilkowski both pledged to act positively for the Highland Heights neighborhood, agreeing to almost all the requests made by neighborhood residents. The forum, also attended by 12 candidates running for six Toledo City Council at-large positions, was co-sponsored by Highland Heights Neighborhood Association (HHNA) and Burroughs Neighborhood Organization (BNO). Following are the questions the two groups posed to the mayoral and council candidates and the responses from the candidates.

HHNA Question 1 Will you pledge to demolish at least five houses/buildings a year in the areas in South Toledo that our groups represent and to vigorously enforce city code during your term in office?

YES: Wilkowski, Bell, Steve Steele, Joe McNamara, Terry Biel, Phil Copeland, William "Willis" Terry, Polly Taylor-Gerken, Adam Martinez, Rob Ludeman, Terry Shankland, Kevin Milliken, George Sarantou, Constantine Stamos.

NO: (No one.)

HHNA Question 2 Will you pledge to provide funding through capital improvement revenues to either: a) repair and upgrade Highland Park pools or b) convert them into green space beginning in 2010?

YES: Wilkowski, Bell, Steve Steele, Joe McNamara, Terry Biel, Phil Copeland, William "Willis" Terry, Polly Taylor-Gerken, Adam Martinez, Rob Ludeman, Terry Shankland, Kevin Milliken, Constantine Stamos.

NO: George Sarantou.

HHNA Question 3 Will you pledge an increase in police patrols and presence in our neighborhoods, working in cooperation with our area anti-crime groups, such as BNO and HHNA?

YES: Wilkowski, Bell, Steve Steele, Joe McNamara, Terry Biel, Phil Copeland, William "Willis" Terry, Polly Taylor-Gerken, Adam Martinez, Rob Ludeman, Terry Shankland, Kevin Milliken, George Sarantou, Constantine Stamos.

NO: (No one.)

BNO Question 4 Will you pledge to annually trim, cut, and/or remove stumps, repair or replace city sidewalks and maintain alleys?

YES: Wilkowski, Bell, Steve Steele, Joe McNamara, Terry Biel, Phil Copeland, William "Willis" Terry, Adam Martinez, Kevin Milliken, George Sarantou, Constantine Stamos.

NO: Terry Shankland, Rob Ludeman, Polly Taylor-Gerken

BNO Question 5 Will you commit to allocate a minimum of $350,000 annually in capital improvement funds in BNO and HHNA neighborhoods to resurface a minimum of 1 mile of street?

YES: Wilkowski, Bell, Steve Steele, Terry Biel, Phil Copeland, William "Willis" Terry, Polly Taylor-Gerken, Adam Martinez, Rob Ludeman, Kevin Milliken, George Sarantou.

NO: Constantine Stamos, Joe McNamara, Terry Shankland.

BNO Question 6 Will you pledge to hold the owner of the 19.5 acre parcel located at 310 and 400 South Westwood Avenue accountable to clean it up, perhaps allocate environmental funds to assist in the clean up, and work with the University of Toledo, city of Toledo, and neighborhood organizations to complete a feasibility study to prepare the site for shovel-ready development including commercial, green and/or other related uses by end of 2010?

YES: Wilkowski, Bell, Steve Steele, Joe McNamara, Terry Biel, Phil Copeland, William "Willis" Terry, Polly Taylor-Gerken, Adam Martinez, Rob Ludeman, Kevin Milliken, George Sarantou.

NO: Terry Shankland, Constantine Stamos.