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Neighbors urge action; Abatement Appeals Board upholds order for 2455 Jackson Street
Summary
On Oct. 16, 2024 the Abatement Appeals Board unanimously denied an appeal and upheld an order of abatement for 2455 Jackson Street after DBI described persistent hazardous conditions; neighbors testified they cannot open bedroom windows because of falling debris.
The Abatement Appeals Board on Oct. 16, 2024 voted unanimously to deny an appeal and uphold an order of abatement and assessment of costs for 2455 Jackson Street, a four-story residential building with five units.
DBI housing inspection staff reported long-standing deferred maintenance, unpermitted remodeling, construction debris, and risks of falling material that have extended to adjacent properties. "Housing inspection staff has found that the building...represent the life and health safety hazards to the occupant[s] of the 2 adjacent building[s]," DBI said in its oral presentation.
Neighbors described the impacts in testimony. Charles Ward, who lives next door at 2461 Jackson Street, said he has dealt with the property's condition for decades and urged the board to uphold the order: "I'm here to ask you to please uphold this order," Ward said. Marie Carr, who lives at 2447 Jackson Street and spoke remotely, said she and her children have been unable to open bedroom windows for five years "for fear of debris falling into our children's window," and described hazardous rooftop materials and pigeons inside the building.
The board noted notice of the hearing had been mailed and posted (mailing date read into the record as 09/05/2024). Commissioner Alexander Toot moved to deny the appeal and uphold the order of abatement and assessment of costs; Commissioner Shattucks seconded. Roll-call votes recorded unanimous "yes" votes from Vice President Newman, Commissioner Alexander Toot, Commissioner Ming, Commissioner Shattucks and Commissioner Williams.
After the vote, a person identifying themself as representing the owner arrived and said the appellant had appealed years earlier and experienced a long delay in processing the appeal, including during the COVID period. The owner's representative asked whether the board could hear the matter; board members said the decision had already been made and discussed procedural limits on reopening the hearing. DBI staff clarified that nothing in today's action prevents the owner or a representative from doing the repair work.
The appellants were listed in the file as Bob Corman and Nancy E. Wrighty, Spousal Irrevocable Trust; the hearing record and DBI exhibits contain detailed permit, NOV and posting documentation. The board's written order and DBI's enforcement file will reflect the hearing outcome.
