East Ridge Housing Commission continues show-cause hearing on 763 Flynn Drive to May 14

On March 12, the East Ridge Housing Commission voted to continue a show-cause hearing for 763 Flynn Drive to the commission's May 14 meeting to give mortgage holders and other interested parties time to respond.

The property's owner, identified in commission materials as Ms. Gore, was not present. Commission staff reported the owner has been looking for a buyer but has been unable to produce clear title information or documentation showing entitlement to the property. Staff said the house is boarded, lacks utilities and has outstanding tax obligations.

Staff told the commission that title records show a deed of trust recorded in February 2010 with subsequent assignments, including a 2012 assignment, and that recent searches point to mortgage holders listed as Northstar and a MetLife Home Loans account. A staff member recommended sending notice letters to the mortgage holders and others listed on the assignment records and warned that the property could be subject to condemnation, with related costs taxed as a lien on the property if no interested party comes forward.

"This property is being subject to condemnation, including but not limited to demolition, of which any and all costs to be taxed to the property," a staff member said during the discussion.

Commissioners asked whether a death certificate or probate filings had been provided and whether a reverse mortgage or insurance payout could have satisfied loan obligations. Staff said no release showing payoff had been located and that foreclosure filings would appear later if a lender pursued them; the commission was not presented with any active successor-trustee or foreclosure filing at the time of the meeting.

Commissioners also reviewed a tax record showing the property had at least one year of taxes paid previously and that additional tax obligations remained. Staff recommended 60 days' notice and suggested setting the matter for the May meeting so mortgage holders could be notified and, if necessary, come forward to assert an interest before further action.

The motion to continue the hearing to the May 14 meeting passed unanimously.

Next steps described by staff include mailing notices to the mortgage holders and any other persons or entities shown in the title assignments; if no party appears to take responsibility, the commission indicated it could pursue condemnation and place costs as a lien on the property.

No formal order of condemnation or demolition was adopted at the March 12 meeting; the commission voted only to continue the hearing and direct staff to notify parties of the pending matter.