Neighborhood assistance reports demolition progress; city outlines coordinated inspections for larger apartment buildings
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Summary
Department of Neighborhood Assistance officials said they have completed 55 of 96 demolition projects under a state grant, are using four contractor crews, and are expanding joint inspections with fire and county building partners to address unsafe multi‑unit properties.
The City of Akron’s Department of Neighborhood Assistance updated the Budget & Finance Committee on demolition activity, nuisance compliance and intensified inspections of larger apartment buildings, stressing cross‑agency coordination with fire and Summit County building officials.
The department said its demolition effort under a state grant began with 96 approved homes; 55 demolitions have been completed and the work is expected to finish by the end of April. Department staff said three demolition contractors are operating four crews daily to accelerate the backlog.
Nuisance compliance and mowing: staff told the committee that nuisance compliance budgeting and service contracts appear on page 183 of the budget manual and cover animal control, cleanup contracts and mowing. The transcript included discussion of prior year spending levels and current budgets but did not specify consistent dollar units for some figures mentioned in committee questions.
Inspection coordination: Fire Chief Henderson and housing‑compliance supervisors described expanded joint inspections that pair fire, building and county inspectors for high‑occupancy or structurally‑vulnerable properties. The fire chief and neighborhood staff cited the Ohio Fire Code and related state authorities as the legal basis for some inspection work. Dwayne Gregor, who oversees housing compliance activity, said the city is coordinating multi‑disciplinary inspections for troubled properties such as Summit Ridge, Woodbeth Arlington and Erickson and is using supervisor‑led teams to avoid pulling ward inspectors away from routine work. Gregor said staff recently met with Summit Ridge’s property manager to review outstanding repair items.
Equipment and contracts: Committee members asked about equipment purchased for inspectors; staff said last year the department replaced aging inspector vehicles and listed about $115,000 in equipment construction in the line items discussed. Council members asked about mowing and contracted maintenance; staff said the city uses a bid process for contractors, prioritizes residential complaints and also handles city lots under the same contracting arrangements.
Out‑of‑area landlords: Council members raised recurring enforcement challenges posed by owners based outside Akron. The mayor and staff said the city is reviewing ordinances used in other Ohio cities, including Cleveland, that require an in‑state representative for an out‑of‑area owner; staff said legal review of options is ongoing.
Ending: Committee members asked for follow‑up data, including counts of lots sold to neighbors (which may reduce mowing obligations) and more detail on nuisance compliance budgets. Staff agreed to provide requested figures within 24–48 hours.