Demolition order given for evacuated Akron apartment building, despite potential buyer

“Since February, nothing’s been done,” City of Akron attorney John York told the owner of the dilapidated South Main Street boarding house that was evacuated earlier this year over concerns that portions of the building could imminently collapse.

Residents were forced to leave the 51-unit building at 1431 S. Main St. on Feb. 13 after portions of the building’s brick veneer on the third floor detached and collapsed onto the front sidewalk. Inspectors found additional safety issues, including that the back wooden stairwell and balcony of the three-floor building was dangerous and that a fire panel was inoperable.

Tenants are still not allowed back in the building, and none of the longstanding issues discovered before and after its evacuation have been addressed. The Housing Appeals Board, during its June 26 meeting, was waiting for an explanation from the owner, Robert Johnson, about the building’s condition as its members considered what to do next.

“I haven’t had the funds, I haven’t had the opportunity, I’ve been on house arrest, I’ve been on my ankle monitor, I’ve had a lot of legal issues,” Johnson told York, defending the inaction on repairs to his building and becoming increasingly heated as the questioning continued. “… I ain’t going to stand here and let you talk down to me, because you’re not above me, brother, you’re just like me. Just because you have a law degree?”…

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