Real Estate

City Looks to Raze Vacant House on Crain Avenue

Property owner failed to deliver on renovation promise

After years of vacancy, city officials are now trying to demolish a house on Crain Avenue that's been a thorn in the side of many neighborhood residents.

The city started court proceedings to demolish the house at 615 Crain Ave., a property city building officials say has been vacant with no utility service since 2003.

Bridget Susel, director of Kent's Community Development Department, said the city is trying to demolish the house through the Moving Ohio Forward Program, a state-managed process that reimburses communities for the cost of demolishing blighted properties.

Susel said the property owner, Sharie Meduri, has not responded to numerous notices from the city or attempts from others interested in buying the house.

"The house is in a great neighborhood," Susel said. "It’s a key block in terms of being on the corner there, and it’s a unique style. She has not responded to any inquiries about selling the property."

Kent's law department filed court proceedings in April asking a Portage County Common Pleas judge for a demolition order for the property.

The house has been vacant since at least September 2003. The utilities have been shut off for the past 10 years, according to the city's civil complaint.

In January 2012 Meduri owed $300 in overdue fines to the city for violations related to the city's property maintenance code. In April 2012 the city issued Meduri a renovation permit, on which she claimed plans for $30,000 in improvements to the property.

Susel said Meduri never acted on the building permit.

Meduri owes more than $25,000 in back taxes on the property, according to the Portage County Auditor's Office online records.

Susel said in February the city notified Meduri of plans to seek a court order for demolition of the house, and Meduri had 30 days to appeal the notice.

"But we received no response," Susel said.

City officials expect the court to sign off on the demolition order within the next two months, at which point Meduri would again be notified of the plans to raze the structure. Then, before the wrecking ball swings, city administrators will take the matter to Kent City Council for final say.

"The city does not want to demolish structures," Susel said. "That is not our goal. But we can also not leave blighted conditions like that in a residential neighborhood because it adversely affects the property values around it and it creates a true safety risk for everyone."

Residents of the neighborhood have lamented the house's vacancy while remaining hopeful to see it's restoration.

"We have always dreamed that someone would buy it and fix it up, maybe add onto it, but keeping this cool design — very unique!" Liz Wagoner wrote on the Kent Patch Facebook page. "It's sad that it is so neglected."

Greta Lagodmos said the house has potential but has been neglected.

"It gets worse every year," she said.


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