subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Fri, Nov 27 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   






autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

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

PREMIUM JOBS

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

WEK Industries is looking for an experienced maintenance tech with a background in machine controls, industrial el
...>MORE

APARTMENT MANAGERS
Mature Couple
Experienced. To live in nice newer Northeast Ohio Complex. Good personality for leasing. Free rent, u
...>MORE

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

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Eastern Ohio P-16 Partnership
The P-16 Partnership, a new program to foster postsecondary success and career readin
...>MORE

Mechanic
Muscle Cars Light Mechanic,
detail, PT, Geneva (440)466-1011
...>MORE

MDS COORDINATOR
MDS Coordinator
Experienced long term care RN with supervisory skills to direct MDS and electronic documentation pr
...>MORE

APARTMENT MANAGERS

Mature Couple
Experienced. To live in nice newer Northeast Ohio Complex. Good personality for leasing. Free r
...>MORE

Assembly & Press Operators
For Girard, PA.
Plastics Manufacturer
15 openings. (814)833-6722
...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM AUTOS

Station Wagon for Sale
1977 Plymouth wagon $1200
(440)228-4345
...>MORE

1995 Achieva for Sale
‘95 Olds Achieva 100K, ex. cond. auto, blue, 4dr, new tires & battery $1500. (440)344-5844...>MORE

1999 Chevrolet Conversion Van
106k, nice shape $4500 obo. (440)951-9705...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM HOMES

House for Rent
Highly Efficient remodeled East side 2BR 1BA laundry area $550+sec. 440-992-9120 ...>MORE

OPEN HOUSE
Sundays 11/22 & 11/29
2pm-5pm, 2114 E. 42nd St. 2BR/1ba Ranch, full bsmt,
2 car det. gar. $79,300. (440)812-
...>MORE

Mobile Home for Sale
1967 Globemaster 14x70
decent condition $1,000, new furnace
440-466-7885
...>MORE

2008 Mobile Home for Sale
2BR 2BA Like New,
Owner Financing Avail. No Dogs. Driftwood Acres 440-466-7777
...>MORE

MOBILE HOMES FOR SALE
Oakwood MHP East Side Ash. Buckeye Schools. Starting $350/mo. Rent to Own Available.
Call Stacy 440-812-2404
...>MORE

OWNER FINANCING
Ashtabula 2BR, 1BA, C/A, vinyl siding, new roof, carpet, plumbing & paint $30,000. 10% down & $324.05/mo. 5312 Madison A...>MORE

Ashtabula House for Sale
3BR home “as is” $25,000 obo
Call M-F 9-5, Ash. 440-992-9582
...>MORE

Kingsville Home for Sale
3-4BR/2ba Home for Sale;
2.25 ac., 2.5 car gar., 2bay carport,
shed, $85,000; Will consider land contract....>MORE

RENT TO OWN
Geneva very nice, very large
3BR, new carpets & much more $250/mo. Credit problems ok. 440-673-1955
...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM EXTRAS

WANTED TO BUY
Immediate Cash for unwanted items.
Call for details 440-319-4274
...>MORE

WANTED TO BUY!!
Wanted to Buy
Complete plow assembly
for a 2002 Dodge pick up truck. 440-319-5510 lv msg.
...>MORE

CHRISTMAS TREES
PreCut or You Cut $25.
Nov. 27th Saturdays & Sundays 9-5;
5926 Sidley Rd. Madison
440-298-1818
...>MORE

BUYING JUNK VEHICLES
WE PAY SCRAP OR BETTER
Budget Auto Parts,
6015 Woodman Ave. 992-1111
...>MORE

"WE NEED LAND!"
Paying top prices for farms or acreage in OH, W. Virginia and PA. Call Bruner Land Co. at (740) 685-8138....>MORE

Christmas Trees!
Spruce & Pine - Wagon Rides,
Big Selection. (440)293-7330
www.logbarnfarm.com
...>MORE

Cemetery Lots
2-lots Garden of Christus, Greenlawn.
$400/both. 440-391-3795
...>MORE

MACHINERY & TOOLS
SAFES- Large & small, Forklifts, extra forks, Pallet Jacks, air compressors, (1-20HP), complete torch sets, welding gass...>MORE

SEASONED FIREWOOD FOR SALE
Mixed Hardwoods. Cut & split approx 16” $225.00 cord (+) or Slab wood, cut $150.00 cord(+). Delivered within 15 miles of...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM RENTALS

Apartments for Rent
2BR Jefferson/Rome/Orwell Heat furn. No pets. (440)563-5952...>MORE

House for Rent GOTL
3BR 2BA ranch, quiet, shed, $675/mo+util+dep. 440-285-4150...>MORE

Apartment for Rent
1BR duplex Ashtabula
$350/mo (440)417-3616
...>MORE

Unfurnished Apartments
Two bdrm 1st flr apt. $525/mo incl ALL UTILITIES,
quiet park setting - NO DOGS. 440-466-7885.
...>MORE

Geneva Unfurnished Apartments
Geneva apts. 1BR & Eff. avail. Move in specials. Water/sewer/ trash incl. All elec. (440)466-8025...>MORE

House for Rent
3BR Ash. harbor near Kent, full bsmt., 2 car gar., huge back yard w/fence, shed, appl. incl. $600+ sec. 702-578-0606/440...>MORE

Ashtabula Unfurnished Apartment
2BR Ash. 116 W.42nd St.
$550 + sec. (440)969-4259
...>MORE

ASHTABULA & CONNEAUT APTS. FOR RENT
Ashtabula
Free rent
Bunker Hill Apartments
2BR starting $480
Call Patrick
(440)993-7411
...>MORE

Kingsville Apartment
Kings 2 BRs, $475 +.sec. Inclds heat & water. 440-368-5678...>MORE

Apartment for Rent
Avail Again! After 22 years. 2 room effic. $300+elect. & refs. Call 440-964-3483...>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