Owner given 6 months to improve property

Thursday, March 19, 2009
On Thursday, the Cloverdale Board of Zoning Appeals gave the owner of this home at 203 S. Lafayette St. six months to bring the structure up to code.

CLOVERDALE -- The fate of a home at 203 S. Lafayette St., Cloverdale, was made Thursday night during a special meeting of the Cloverdale Board of Zoning Appeals after the board reached an agreement with the property owner.

Back in January, the house was inspected and deemed unsafe and uninhabitable. The inspector's report contended, "The floors are uneven indicating some structural damage."

Other issues with the house included a gas water heater with a red tag and an old exterior wall exposed through current shingles. The house was once rented by the owner, but has sat empty for some time.

The inspection of the house was conducted after former tenants filed a complaint.

Jeff Everman -- doing business as J.A.Enterprises -- owns the Lafayette Street property. He said the former tenants approached him about renting the house, and a lease was signed stating all maintenance would be done by and at the expense of the renters.

Everman was present at the special meeting to argue for a dismissal of the demolition order. He wanted to know the board's criteria for taking such action against his property. He felt the structure was sound, although there were "minor issues" listed on the inspector's report.

He explained the red tag on the water heater was 10 years old and had been corrected. The premises had been secured with locked doors and windows.

Everman said he planned to repair the house in the future, but was reluctant to give a timeline to the board.

"I have $40,000 invested in the house," he said. "I'm not letting $40,000 go down the toilet. If the foundation is damaged, no, it is not in my best interest to repair it."

Board members said they did not want to force people to tear down homes, but did want assurance something would be done.

In the end, the board decided to give Everman six months to have the house brought to compliance with building codes, which are primarily state law. He was also given two weeks to have the windows, doors and main structure boarded up for safety concerns.

"This is reasonable," Everman said after the board approved the motion.

After six months, the house will be inspected to ensure all codes have been met.

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  • why do you keep deleting my comment?

    -- Posted by clovertrueviews on Fri, Mar 20, 2009, at 3:46 PM
  • Perhaps the owner should scrap the house. Haul away all refuse and sell the remaining materials. At some point, repairing the house would be as expensive as rebuilding it.

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Fri, Mar 20, 2009, at 7:07 PM
  • If it's beyond repair or will be exteme in cost - it might be cheaper to tear it down and put a used modular / double-side in the same place. There are some decent ones on the market now with so many homes in foreclosure.

    -- Posted by Scripted Spontaneity on Sat, Mar 21, 2009, at 7:09 PM
  • In looking at the picture of the Everman property, this house looks like it's in better shape than the gray 2-story house on further north and on the East-side of Lafayette Street. It, too, has broken windows, in very poor shape - looks abandoned.

    There's also another house north of the gray house - on the corner of Lafayette and the street North of Market - lots of junk on the porch. Does the zoning board plan to contact the owners of those houses as well ?

    -- Posted by Scripted Spontaneity on Sat, Mar 21, 2009, at 7:17 PM
  • I totally agree with the above comment about the gray house. That house looks as if it could fall apart at anytime. The children after school take the driveway to the left as a short cut. Is the zoning board worried about that one?? That house should be put up to the board?? On another point why don't people have pride in their homes? Trash on the lawn and junk everywhere?? I was raised whether or not you had alot, take pride and make it the best you can. But, maybe that's just me?

    -- Posted by Apple23 on Mon, Mar 23, 2009, at 1:23 AM
  • This house was falling apart and "leaning" when I was a kid in Cloverdale 30 years ago!

    Every other house in town looks like this one.

    Pitiful.

    -- Posted by mal on Mon, Mar 23, 2009, at 6:49 PM
  • I hope the board can do more about homes like the large gray home on Lafayette. There are plenty that need something done to them. It would be nice to see them do something about the junk and abandoned cars also.

    -- Posted by chicagogirl on Tue, Mar 24, 2009, at 9:14 AM
  • I love you comments expecially if it's not your house. Yes it might need repairs or even torn down. But if you don't have the money yet , you don't have it! times are hard. if it is a concern for your children , WATCH THEM! this is the first house , remember yours might be next. So Clocertucky KEEP up with the Jones. next it will be your cars.

    -- Posted by Sand mann on Tue, Mar 24, 2009, at 2:07 PM
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