Ava Park findings, federal action, and Roseview buyout highlight Griffin nuisance program

City staff described two high‑profile nuisance interventions as case studies in Griffin’s nuisance‑abatement program.

Kelsey Carden recounted the Roseview sequence: after a multi‑year nuisance case and an appeal, the city purchased the property for $575,000 and completed demolition on Feb. 2, 2022; in‑house demolition work cost $131,212.74 and the property was later conveyed to the Housing Authority to facilitate a LIHTC redevelopment. “Ultimately on paper our investment was approximately $750,000 not accounting for manpower hours,” Carden said.

On Ava Park (80 units), staff said tenant complaints initiated a formal nuisance process in July 2024; the city conducted a multi‑agency inspection (Aug. 22, 2024) and revoked certificates of occupancy for all 80 units, displacing roughly 40 households. HUD terminated the HAP contract in Oct. 2024, making many residents eligible for housing choice vouchers. Carden reported staff provided evidence that helped prompt a federal investigation and which led the property’s owner/management company to exit HUD-funded housing nationally. A developer purchase led to a consent order that allows rehabilitation with a completion deadline of Dec. 2026.

Staff emphasized the tradeoffs and costs: the city cited $13,021.38 in contractor fees during part of the Ava Park case and reported substantial recoupment of unpaid utility funds and nuisance costs through the consent order. They also discussed exploring temporary housing options (short‑term leases through a nonprofit or quasi‑governmental partner) to reduce the chilling effect on tenant complaints and allow rehabilitation rather than demolition.