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Steubenville Inspections Department issues 54 code violation notices, more expected

By LINDA HARRIS 2 min read
Photo by Stephanie Elverd The Sinclair Building at the corner of Fourth and Market streets remains partially closed after city officials shut down the adjacent sidewalk and traffic lanes because of concerns that loose concrete could fall from the aging structure. The building's deteriorating condition, along with the recent condemnation of the Fort Steuben Mall, has underscored Steubenville's expanded effort to inspect commercial and residential properties for code compliance.

STEUBENVILLE -- City Manager Mike Johnson says notices of violation mailed to the owners of 54 properties last month are just the start of what will be a citywide enforcement effort.

Johnson said the notices, mailed nearly a month ago, primarily targeted properties in the North End of the downtown area.

"The plan is to systematically go throughout the city to ensure compliance with the building codes," Johnson said Monday. "The next section of town for review is the South End of downtown, followed by the two hilltops and the West End. Complaints about specific buildings anywhere in the city will continue to be investigated in a timely fashion, so a building in the West End could be included in the next wave of citations that cover primarily the South End."

Johnson described it as an ongoing priority.

"I wouldn't characterize it as a crackdown," he said. "I encourage all my employees, including the building department employees, to do their jobs."

Among the items that drew inspectors’ attention in the North End were roof and drainage issues, failing stairways, decks, porches and balconies, overgrown weeds, skylights, exterior walls, protective treatments for doors, windows, trim, decks and fences and chimneys.

Johnson said the certified letters were mailed to affected property owners June 17.

"I believe they gave a deadline of July 24 to bring the buildings into code compliance," he said. "Some property owners have begun making repairs. Some property owners have asked for an extension of time to make the repairs. As long as the extension request was reasonable, the extension request was granted."

He said all of the letters were sent by certified mail.

If a property owner refuses to accept the certified letter, Johnson said the city will post the building after next week’s deadline passes. Once the building is posted, if the property owner does not take corrective action, the next step would be to place it on the demolition list.

Owners who accepted delivery of the letters will have their properties revisited after the July 24 deadline, or any approved extension, has passed, Johnson said. If the property remains out of compliance, "the next step is taking (that) property owner to court."

Starting at /week.