subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sun, Jul 05 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Published June 25, 2008 05:12 pm - They call it the Dirty Baker’s Dozen.

Bringing down the house
Housing director says federal money could help demolish 67 houses condemned by city

By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

ASHTABULA — They call it the Dirty Baker’s Dozen.

Bolstered by Ohio’s Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP), 13 dilapidated unlivable houses were demolished last year, a big number for a little city like Ashtabula, but city housing director Jason Strong said there is a lot of work yet to be done and a lot of other houses to tear down.

“Out of 100 garages deemed structurally unstable, 55 were torn down. We have 80 houses on our condemned or dangerous-dwelling list, and 13 were torn down,” Strong said. “That is progress, but it really is just a start.”

Strong said he supports the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, which could bring a portion of $4 billion in federal dollars to Ohio. The measure targets cities and states blighted by abandoned homes, and provides financial counseling and help for homeowners facing imminent foreclosure, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio, said.

“I think the intention is excellent,” Strong said. “Obviously, any money we get to help the blight and the people of Ashtabula is welcomed. I’m all for it.”

Strong said vacant vandalized houses attract drug activity and pose dangers to area safety forces.

“Three vacant houses caught fire last year. That is three times our firefighters had to go into a burning house that might not have been structurally sound to begin with,” Strong said.

The blight puts a damper on an already wet housing market in the city, Strong said.

“Bringing down these condemned houses will reduce the strain on safety forces and the city’s budget. It might cost money now, but we will get it all back the very next year,” he said.

Strong said he is concerned about his tax dollars helping irresponsible lenders but agrees the ends justify the means.

“I just hope this is a balanced bill that will hold these lenders to their mistakes. But something has to be done to help people who are in trouble and people who just want their neighborhoods to support the value of their house,” he said.



print this story    email this story   




Zillow
monster
autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

PREMIUM JOBS

CLERICAL
Collections $12-15/hr
Customer Service $10-15/hr
Office Asst $10-1
...>MORE

Dispatcher Needed
in a fast paced busy environment. Must be available for various shifts.
Apply within City Taxicab,
1753 West
...>MORE

PRODUCTION - FIBERGLASS
Production - Fiberglass
Must be able to transfer shift
with short notice
Recent verifiable fiberglass exp
...>MORE

QUALITY CONTROL
Earn up to $100 a day. Evaluate retail stores. Training provided. No exp req. Call 877-218-6203....>MORE

DRIVERS WANTED
DEDICATED
ROUTES
   • Consistent Home Time
   • $1,100 per wk./avg.
   • Health + 401k
Class-A-
...>MORE

Direct Care Staff
Residential Treatment Center Hiring part time direct care staff. primarily evenings & weekends. Must be able to pass bac...>MORE

NURSING - LPN
Full-time position in a 20 bed residential facility serving the MR/DD population. Apply in person:
The Gables,
...>MORE

ASHTABULA AREA CITY SCHOOLS
BUSINESS OFFICE

CUSTODIAN, LAKESIDE
HIGH SCHOOL
2nd Shift, 2nd Floor,
2:00PM - 10:00PM
...>MORE

SECURITY OFFICERS
Come Join the World’s Largest Security Company!Securitas Security is now hiring full Time Officers for the Perry, OH Are...>MORE

MEDICAL DELIVERY DRIVER NEEDED
Seeley Medical, a respiratory services company, has a full-time opening for a medical delivery driver to setup home resp...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM AUTOS

1998 Malibu
4dr, auto, all power, runs good, $899. Call (440)224-3323 / 319-7007...>MORE

1995 BLAZER
4x4 from Texas 175,000 miles $1500..
(440)812-8139
...>MORE

‘96 OLDS 88 LS
3.8L, V6,
auto, 4dr, full power, 130K, well kept, great car. Asking $2,200 obo. Ash. 319-5510 lv msg
...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM HOMES

Buckeye Rent to Own
Renovated 4BR 2BA $65k. (440)812-5398...>MORE

1967 GLOBEMASTER
14x70 decent condition $1,000, new furnace
440-466-7885
...>MORE

Buckeye House for Sale
Buckeye Remodeled 2BR Ranch, new siding, roof, bath, gar. 2 sheds $49,900. Darla 440-992-3399...>MORE

1996 SKYLINE
Exc. cond. 3BR 2BA air, big deck. Crestlawn Village 18,500 obo. 812-2404...>MORE

Cottage for Sale
GOTL 4908 Sunset, 2BR winterized cottage, many updates, $40,000. 440-361-1072...>MORE

JUST LISTED!!
East Conneaut: 2BR 1BA
245 Lee St. Newly updated, priced to sell $57,900. 813-3168
...>MORE

OPEN HOUSE
Sat. July 11th, 12-2pm.
1008 Norwood Dr, Ash. Brick ranch w/att 2 car gar, many updates incl kit & windows, lg mas
...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM EXTRAS

PAINTING
Interior/Exterior painting, satisfaction guar. Free estimates Reas. rates. 25 yrs. exp. (814)873-5207...>MORE

Tires
Lots of good used tires
992-6050
...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM RENTALS

Ashtabula House for Rent
*Nice 3BD/1BA West side Ash. double lot $575+util. 440-655-9906...>MORE

OFFICE, MEDICAL & RETAIL
SPACE AVAILABLE
(440)997-5676
...>MORE

Ashtabula Harbor Apt. for Rent
3BR 1BA $525+ sec, Appl. incl. Sec 8 OK. 812-5398...>MORE

ONE BEDROOM
1st flr apt $495/mo incl ALL UTILITIES quiet park setting. -NO PETS;
440-466-7885.
...>MORE

Andover Village
2BR Apt. in Andover Village.  Remodeled kitchen & bath, new heating & flooring. Private entrance & driveway.  $450 mo + ...>MORE

APARTMENT RENTAL
New Ash. E.17th 1BR/1BA
$500. Good credit.No pets.
All Appl, A/C W/D 760-598-9366
...>MORE

SAYBROOK APARTMENT
2Br ranch duplex, $460 + utils & sec. dep. No dogs. Sec 8 ok. 440-969-1593/440-473-2934...>MORE

EAST SIDE BUCKEYE SCHOOLS
1BR Util. incl. $425/mo; 2BR $395/ mo+util. 440-812-2404...>MORE

House for Rent in Jefferson
Jeff Village 3BR ranch $600; Adams St. or for sale 474-3339...>MORE

MOBILE HOME FOR RENT
Harpersfield $375/mo. 2BR, all appl. incl. No pets. Background & credit check. 466-3661...>MORE

See all ads



 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index