A few words about the City of Athens Code Enforcement’s recent blitz in the West Side neighborhood…
I love the West Side. My wife and I have lived off and on in that neighborhood for years. Though we once lived on the East Side with its easy access to Avalanche Pizza and the shops on East State, we prefer the West Side with its unique blend of people from all walks of life, close proximity to Miller’s Chicken, downtown and unique architecture.
On our daily walks, we remember where this or that person lived — for example, master brickmason John Spoforth lived at this house on Brown Street and you can see his handiwork with the home’s decorative bricks. Or how a family lived in a two-story house for many years — a house that was later condemned, sat empty for years, and was torn down within the last year or so.
Did you know Andrew Jackson Davison and his wife Eliza owned that green house on Washington Street? Davison was Athens County’s first African-American attorney as well as one of the first Black lawyers in Ohio.
A historical marker says famed Black educator Booker T. Washington was married in a house on W. Washington Street.
Cemetery on West Union Street is filled with local notables who made a difference not only in Athens, but statewide.
Despite the West Side’s historical character and charm, the neighborhood has had issues that have needed to be addressed by property owners and code enforcement for at least 25 years.
Though more can be done, I don’t blame Code Enforcement or City Hall because at the end of the day, the property owners — not all of them but those who are comfortable with graffiti, trash, and abandoned homes — need to step up.
And I applaud 1st Ward Councilwoman Solveig Spjeldnes for having the guts to make this issue and stand up for folks on the West Side who are tired of this crap.
Let’s face facts — while City Hall was busy debating resolutions about whether to support Ukraine or other farflung places affected by imperialist overreach — the West Side has been suffering from benign neglect.
That recent code enforcement blitz — that’s because Spjeldnes started asking questions and trying to get stuff done — trying to inspire change in our own backyard where we can make the most difference.
Yes, Code Enforcement has been through the West Side periodically to cite property owners over the years, but some of the issues remain the same — this or that house is abandoned; bricks/trash at one house; graffiti on the porch at this house; falling in porch/roof too at this house. What’s up with that bus on Brown Avenue?
Let me share some of my experiences:
– A house located at the dead end of Miller Street has been abandoned for a long time. Front porch falling in — caution tape too. And it was once a nice house too. I would’ve loved to have lived there before it fell into ruin — probably take several thousands of dollars to repair the place. Out of town property owner.
– Duplex on Hanlin — back porch is perched on the side of a hill. The porch’s roof is unsteady to say the least. The apartment is abandoned — out of town property owner. Again, if I had my way, I would buy the place, fix it and do something with it rather than let the place sit open to the elements, an attractive nuisance.
– When our family was looking at houses on Brown Avenue, many houses were… in bad shape. My wife and I thought at the time — why invest in a home on Brown Avenue if it’s never going to change!?
Yes, Brown Avenue has had some folks last year to come in, buy a couple of houses and transform them into good places to live — I applaud you — but there are other places where graffiti appears permanent, repairs never made.
On First Street by the West State Cemetery, there is a 2-story house that no one lives in that needs major work. Except for the house’s proximity to a graveyard in the event of a zombie apocalypse, the house looks like it might have once been a great place to live. Nice houses nearby too. These days, there is an open window or porthole into the home’s roof — that can’t be good; the front porch appears to be rotten and like other places in the neighborhood, the house does not appear to be locked down, so anyone can squat there.
What’s going to happen to Frank’s Bait Shop on Central Avenue? It’s no longer open and hasn’t been for some time — damn shame.
And having a neighborhood school on Central Avenue was nice, but I guess that ship has sailed. Now my youngest son has to be bussed to The Plains… but they got to keep their school on the East Side.
First Street is one of the most unique places in town — we lived several years on that street. We love the two-story houses with their porches overlooking the street. First Street has begun to make a comeback, but it still has a long way to go.
West Side could be one of Athens’ premier neighborhoods — we love it there — but it won’t be because little to nothing is being done.
Sure, Code Enforcement will cite and things will change short term long enough to get City Hall off the property owner’s back, but then it’s back to the same-old-same-old.
And then there are the high rents these landlords are charging but then putting next to nothing back into renovating/upgrading these houses so the problem perpetuates itself.
If this were the East Side or one of those posh suburban developments, none of these issues would be allowed to stand.
Other cities where we’ve lived — abandoned homes — forget about it because these cities will sit on top of the property owner until the place is either repaired, torn down or sold. Some places offer tax credits to repair older homes. Vinton County was recently awarded a big bucket of cash to tear down homes that have fallen in disrepair.
Repairs/restoration — I don’t think anyone wants to gentrify the West Side, but instead preserve its historical and cultural integrity.
There is plenty of research showing that neighborhoods where homes are kept up nurtures cohesion and less crime.
Sometimes Athens City Hall can overreach — I understand that — but sometimes it’s necessary to do something to initiate change or else nothing happens.
I’m glad Spjeldnes and Code Enforcement are putting a spotlight on the blight, but a concerted longterm effort is needed to preserve the integrity of the West Side.
Most Popular
Comments / 0