THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks
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UPDATE: THURSDAY 1:22PMAt some point after the meeting, the caution tape was returned to 630 Greenup Street only this time it is wrapped around the wire fence:
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ORIGINAL POST:
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A home that sits on the corner of Garrard and Seventh Streets across from the Covington Ladies Home has had a controversial history over the past five years. Purchased by Martin-Elias Properties in 2005 and renovated with the intention of selling it to a law firm, the property has fallen into dangerous disrepair after the law firm idea fell through at the City level following an outcry from neighbors who did not want a business operating on the block. According to the Kenton County property value administrator's website, 630 Garrard Street was valued at $480,000 in 2011 and now is worth only $45,000.
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| The home with its new wire fencing |
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Not only has the home fallen apart with a fractured foundation and multiple break-ins and thefts, the business relationship between Shia Elias and Mike Martin has also dissolved and on Wednesday evening the pair made another appearance before the City of Covington's code enforcement board.
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At issue this time was a March 27 citation issued by the code enforcement department for excessive use of caution tape draped across the porch and facade of the building as if it were being decorated for an ambitious Halloween party. Though the tape may have been overdone, the caution is legitimate. The house could be dangerous for anyone who enters it and an engineer suggested that it be condemned. What damage was suffered by the home and when and how it happened was not made clear at the hearing.
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| What the home looked like at the time that it was cited by code enforcement |
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"I think caution tape is the best deterrent and most police departments would agree," Elias said to the board, adding that the Covington Police Department requested that he put up the tape. He said the house had been boarded up for a year and a half and that people had carved holes in the drywall and ferreted through the ceilings. "My responsibility is to keep the community safe. This is not just a vacant building. It has a faulty foundation. It is imperative to the people of Covington and the people of Licking Riverside Historic District that we keep people off the property."
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By the time Martin, Elias, and Elias's attorney, David Schulenberg, arrived at City Hall for the hearing, a temporary resolution had been agreed to by the property owners and the City. Assistant City Solicitor Alex Mattingly arguing on behalf of Covington said that the owners agreed to remove the caution tape and replace it with wire fencing and suggested that the case be dismissed. In fact, at the time of the hearing the tape was already gone and the wire fencing was up in its place. "We have been in talks to make sure this was acceptable to the City," Mattingly said. "This is a complicated matter involving litigation."
By the time Martin, Elias, and Elias's attorney, David Schulenberg, arrived at City Hall for the hearing, a temporary resolution had been agreed to by the property owners and the City. Assistant City Solicitor Alex Mattingly arguing on behalf of Covington said that the owners agreed to remove the caution tape and replace it with wire fencing and suggested that the case be dismissed. In fact, at the time of the hearing the tape was already gone and the wire fencing was up in its place. "We have been in talks to make sure this was acceptable to the City," Mattingly said. "This is a complicated matter involving litigation."
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The issue of litigation interrupted Wednesday's proceedings on multiple occasions with both Elias and Schulenberg refusing to elaborate on what the litigation was related to, but it was made clear that it does not involve the City. It was made well known at a previous code enforcement board hearing earlier this year that Martin and Elias are not only no longer in business together, they can hardly speak to one another. That previous hearing involved a building on Greenup Street owned by Martin that is next door to Elias's home that the pair renovated together. According to Martin at the time, Elias had refused to grant Martin access to his side of the house in order to make the repairs for which Martin was being cited. That case was headed toward a resolution that day.
The issue of litigation interrupted Wednesday's proceedings on multiple occasions with both Elias and Schulenberg refusing to elaborate on what the litigation was related to, but it was made clear that it does not involve the City. It was made well known at a previous code enforcement board hearing earlier this year that Martin and Elias are not only no longer in business together, they can hardly speak to one another. That previous hearing involved a building on Greenup Street owned by Martin that is next door to Elias's home that the pair renovated together. According to Martin at the time, Elias had refused to grant Martin access to his side of the house in order to make the repairs for which Martin was being cited. That case was headed toward a resolution that day.
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The case involving 630 Garrard Wednesday, however, was not. "I can't believe the City is accepting this," said Linda Schwartz of Licking Riverside. "First it was tape, now it's got this fence. It's wrong. And how long is it going to go on? This is a beautiful home that may not be here much longer. If you dismiss this, it's really not good. It's not right. Everybody in the neighborhood is unhappy with it. I'm pleading with you. It's not right that we have to live with it like that."
The case involving 630 Garrard Wednesday, however, was not. "I can't believe the City is accepting this," said Linda Schwartz of Licking Riverside. "First it was tape, now it's got this fence. It's wrong. And how long is it going to go on? This is a beautiful home that may not be here much longer. If you dismiss this, it's really not good. It's not right. Everybody in the neighborhood is unhappy with it. I'm pleading with you. It's not right that we have to live with it like that."
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Schwartz was supported by a majority of the code enforcement board. When a motion was made to dismiss the case, no second to the motion was offered. Finally, after a brief discussion among the board members, a vote was taken and by a 3-1 count, the case was not dismissed. "That looks terrible," said board member Greg Manning, gesturing to the projected image of the house wrapped in its new wire fencing. "There are a lot of houses boarded up. I don't know why it has to have tape and fencing."
Schwartz was supported by a majority of the code enforcement board. When a motion was made to dismiss the case, no second to the motion was offered. Finally, after a brief discussion among the board members, a vote was taken and by a 3-1 count, the case was not dismissed. "That looks terrible," said board member Greg Manning, gesturing to the projected image of the house wrapped in its new wire fencing. "There are a lot of houses boarded up. I don't know why it has to have tape and fencing."
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"It's just another unsightly element," said board member Fritz Kuhlmann.
"It's just another unsightly element," said board member Fritz Kuhlmann.
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The board then voted to support the citation and fine the property owners with an added 90-day limit on how long the fencing could remain in place. The code enforcement board's attorney, Jeff Otis, then had to speak up. "Our options are only to fine or not to fine unless it is re-cited for the fence," Otis said.
The board then voted to support the citation and fine the property owners with an added 90-day limit on how long the fencing could remain in place. The code enforcement board's attorney, Jeff Otis, then had to speak up. "Our options are only to fine or not to fine unless it is re-cited for the fence," Otis said.
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At that point, a third vote was taken fining the owners $100 for excessive caution tape on the date of March 27. Elias engaged Mattingly outside City Hall following the hearing where he was visibly upset with the decision and insisted that he would appeal to Kenton County District Court. As for being re-cited for the new fence, it was not made clear Wednesday if it too is in violation of the code.
At that point, a third vote was taken fining the owners $100 for excessive caution tape on the date of March 27. Elias engaged Mattingly outside City Hall following the hearing where he was visibly upset with the decision and insisted that he would appeal to Kenton County District Court. As for being re-cited for the new fence, it was not made clear Wednesday if it too is in violation of the code.
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