Rep. Thomas West sues Canton over house dispute

Table of Contents

1 Thomas West-owned creating on Canton demo checklist
2 Additional developments this yr

CANTON – State Rep. Thomas West has filed a lawsuit from the city of Canton to prevent the demolition of a household he owns on 14th Street NW.

The civil complaint, submitted July 22 in Stark County Popular Pleas Court, names the city of Canton, Mayor Thomas Bernabei and Main Setting up Official John Dodovich as defendants. It states that West has introduced 723 14th Street into “considerable compliance” with Canton building codes, but the city has sent demolition and tree removing crews to his house as not long ago as July 22.

“It is evident that the metropolis of Canton continues to endeavor to demolish this property because of to alleged non-compliance,” according to the grievance.

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West has questioned the court docket to halt demolition makes an attempt and restore much more than $25,000 in damages. He cited a take a look at from unidentified contractors who “were despatched into the house and began scrapping and getting rid of instruments” following he upgraded ductwork, plumbing and other attributes.

West and his legal professional Brett Hillyer did not react to requests for remark.

Thomas West-owned creating on Canton demo checklist

Canton Regulation Director Kristen Bates Aylward claimed the house has been vacant for about eight decades and was placed on the city’s demolition record simply because the preceding proprietor unsuccessful to tackle various code violations.

“In Ohio, the case regulation is extremely very clear that you take title to a piece of true estate with all its encumbrances, liens, code violations, et cetera, which include demo orders,” she reported.

West ordered the house for $35,600 on July 6, in accordance to Stark County records. The obtain price matches the property’s 2020 appraised value, which greater to $46,700 this yr.

With the sale, West also took obligation for $7,938 in overdue home taxes. County documents display he produced $1,923 in payments very last thirty day period.

The assets also has two particular assessments owed to the city of Canton: $200 for nuisance code enforcement and $290 for a board-up of the residence.

“That home, one of the massive difficulties with it was that it was unsecured and there have been vagrants and other ne’er-do-wells living in there and flopping in there about a interval of time,” Bates Aylward said.

The city boarded up the residence on June 6, 2020, immediately after code violations persisted for “several a long time,” in accordance to Assistant Prosecutor Carrie Frankhauser.

Additional developments this yr

In April of this 12 months, the Developing Office recorded 9 violations at the property and garage. The household had exterior door, storm door, siding, window, exterior wall, downspout and trash accumulation concerns. The garage had paint, overhead door and gutter challenges.

The up coming working day, April 9, the Making Office declared the household and garage unsafe structures and a general public nuisance, in accordance to Frankhauser. The past proprietor, who was notified that the metropolis would demolish the buildings if they were being not fixed or demolished, did not file an enchantment or strategies to proper the violations.

West fixed window, structural and lawn violations and recently had utilities restored to the making soon after a metropolis inspection, according to his grievance. It asserts that the property now is in a habitable affliction.