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Akron Board of Health approves a waiver for 251 Congress St.; declares multiple vacant properties public nuisances
Summary
At its June meeting the Akron Board of Health approved a waiver for 251 Congress Street and voted to declare a string of condemned, vacant properties public nuisances after testimony from a city witness about structural and maintenance problems.
The Akron Board of Health voted June 24 to approve a waiver request for 251 Congress Street and to declare multiple condemned, vacant properties in the city public nuisances after testimony from the city’s witness about deteriorated roofs, foundations and overgrown yards.
City staff told the board the waiver packet for 251 Congress Street, owned by Dustin and Andrea Wackowitz of Kingston, Pennsylvania, "was in good order" and asked the board both to declare the property a public nuisance and to approve the waiver. The board approved the waiver by roll-call vote.
The board then heard extensive testimony from Raymond Plowman, called by the city as its expert witness, who described observed conditions at several condemned properties. Plowman testified that properties displayed missing or sliding asphalt shingles, failing siding and paint, shifted foundation blocks, broken or missing windows, unsecured entrances and extensive overgrown vegetation. He repeatedly cited violations of the International Property Maintenance Code in his expert opinions.
Based on Plowman’s testimony and the city’s photographic exhibits, the board voted to declare the following properties public nuisances: 24 Jerome Avenue (condemned Aug. 5, 2024), 72 Holly Avenue (condemned Dec. 15, 2021), 243 (243/243 Jack/Jackson) Jack/Jackson Avenue (condemned Apr. 13, 2022), 15 Park Street (condemned Sept. 19, 2022), 382 Congress Street (condemned Oct. 24, 2018), and 253 South Avenue (condemned Apr. 5, 2024). The board recorded yes votes in roll call for each motion; the roll calls shown in the record list the same set of board members voting yes on the motions.
The meeting record includes several property-specific details the board discussed: public records show $1,222.99 delinquent 2024 real estate taxes for one property; one owner owed roughly $2,000 in water/sewer/storm fees and about $1,200 in garbage fees; another property’s accumulated municipal fines were listed at $170. Several witnesses and staff reported difficulty contacting property owners, and the city noted some properties retain active electric or gas service while others have had utilities terminated.
Board members and staff noted the history of code enforcement for many of the properties: several had prior condemnations or repeated violations, some had been the subject of prior hearings, and one property’s interior had previously flooded and caused major interior damage. In at least one case the record includes police visits and evidence of people accessing an unsecured structure.
The board’s formal actions at the meeting were procedural declarations and nuisance findings; the record does not show detailed remediation plans or timelines tied to each declaration in the hearing transcript. Staff presentation included photographic exhibits (admitted as exhibits) and verbal expert testimony; the transcript records staff seeking roll-call votes and the board voting to approve the waiver and the nuisance declarations. The meeting adjourned after the final roll-call votes.
