June 26 Housing Appeals Board meeting

Covered by Documenter Ken Evans (see his notes here)

Seven properties were considered for demolition last month by the City of Akron at a June 26 Housing Appeals Board meeting. Five of the properties were added to the demolition list, including an apartment building, while two were granted extensions.

The extensions allow the owners time to implement recommended repairs and obtain mandated documents.

Here are the Akron properties discussed at the June 26 meeting:

890 Bank St. (Middlebury) — This home was recommended for demolition due to the property owner’s noncompliance with housing orders, vacancy, tax delinquency and fire damage. The property’s status is also unregistered.

The board voted to add this property to the city’s demolition list. 

Akron's Housing Appeals Board expressed concern about the lack of progress this house at 1110 Santee Avenue has shown, along with the owner's failure to obtain a formal county inspection. The board granted a 90-day extension for the continuation of repairs. It also requested proof of habitability and completed inspections by its September meeting. In the meantime, the property owner was ordered to keep the space secure while repairing the roof and conducting other planned repairs and scheduling inspections.
Akron’s Housing Appeals Board expressed concern about the lack of progress this house at 1110 Santee Avenue has shown, along with the owner’s failure to obtain a formal county inspection. The board granted a 90-day extension for the continuation of repairs. It also requested proof of habitability and completed inspections by its September meeting. In the meantime, the property owner was ordered to keep the space secure while repairing the roof and conducting other planned repairs and scheduling inspections. (Screenshot via Google Street View)

1110 Santee Ave. (East Akron) — The board expressed concern about the property’s lack of progress and failure to obtain a formal county inspection. 

The board granted a 90-day extension for the continuation of repairs. It also requested proof of habitability and completed inspections by its September meeting. In the meantime, the property owner was ordered to keep the space secure while repairing the roof and conducting other planned repairs and scheduling inspections. 

Akron's Housing Compliance Division recommended this property at 386 E. Crosier St. in South Akron for demolition due to its vacancy, lack of compliance with housing orders, its vandalized condition, tax delinquency, repeated police activity and its unregistered status. The property had to be secured by the city more than 10 times in the past year.
Akron’s Housing Compliance Division recommended this property at 386 E. Crosier St. in South Akron for demolition due to its vacancy, lack of compliance with housing orders, its vandalized condition, tax delinquency, repeated police activity and its unregistered status. The property had to be secured by the city more than 10 times in the past year. (Screenshot via Google Street View)

386 E. Crosier St. (South Akron) — The Housing Compliance Division recommended this property for demolition due to its vacancy, lack of compliance with housing orders, its vandalized condition, tax delinquency, repeated police activity and its unregistered status.

The board expressed the following frustrations: securing the property more than 10 times in the past year and the city performing several cleanups on the property as well as maintaining the lawn.

The board passed a motion to add this property to the city’s demolition list.

Residents of this apartment building at 1431 S. Main. St. in Akron were evacuated in February after the building's front facade partially collapsed, dropping bricks and debris onto the sidewalk and roadway below.
Residents of this apartment building at 1431 S. Main. St. in Akron were evacuated in February after the building’s front facade partially collapsed, dropping bricks and debris onto the sidewalk and roadway below. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)

1431 S. Main St. (South Akron) — This apartment building was recommended for demolition by the Housing Compliance Division due to the lack of compliance with housing orders, poor condition, tax delinquency, vacancy and repeated police activity.

In February, a portion of the building’s brick facade fell on the street and sidewalks, forcing its tenants to be removed. The property owner requested an extension to find a buyer for the building. 

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While a potential buyer for the apartment building was presented, the board expressed skepticism that the building would be economical to repair. After a two-hour debate, the board voted unanimously to demolish the building based on its current condition, the lack of feasible/economically realistic repair plans and the danger the board felt the property posed to the neighborhood.

(Editor’s note: Since the Housing Appeals Board meeting, the building owner, Robert Johnson, has filed a lawsuit to stop the demolition, calling the decision unconstitutional, illegal and unreasonable.)

The property, at 881 Raymond St. in Sherbondy Hill has been discussed at the Housing Appeals Board since 2017. It was added to the city’s ongoing demolition list.
The property, at 881 Raymond St. in Sherbondy Hill has been discussed at the Housing Appeals Board since 2017. It was added to the city’s ongoing demolition list. (Screenshot via Google Street View)

881 Raymond St. (Sherbondy Hill) — This property was reviewed at the May 22 board meeting. During that meeting, the board granted an extension on the condition that the space be free from rubbish and secured and that an interior inspection be scheduled.

The property owner requested an additional 90-day extension; a spokesperson for the property owner said that a potential buyer is interested in the home, but did not provide buyer information or proof that action had been taken since the original extension.

The property, which has been discussed at the Housing Appeals Board since 2017, was added to the city’s ongoing demolition list. The vote was unanimous.

This house at 255 Cross St. in University Park was recommended for demolition due to the property’s noncompliance with housing orders, vacancy, extensive vandalism and the need for the property to be secured by the city.
This house at 255 Cross St. in University Park was recommended for demolition due to the property’s noncompliance with housing orders, vacancy, extensive vandalism and the need for the property to be secured by the city. (Screenshot via Google Street View)

255 Cross St. (University Park) — This home was also recommended for demolition due to the property’s noncompliance with housing orders, vacancy, extensive vandalism and the need for the property to be secured by the city. The property is also unregistered.

The Housing Appeals Board is comprised of Akron residents who review residential properties recommended for demolition and appeals from the Environmental Health Housing Code order.  

The owner of this house at 997 Bye St. in West Akron, shown in 2024, was granted a 60-day extension to make repairs and clean up the property by the Housing Appeals Board on June 26. The city noted that progress had been made to repair the porch and clean up debris from the back yard.
The owner of this house at 997 Bye St. in West Akron, shown in 2024, was granted a 60-day extension to make repairs and clean up the property by the Housing Appeals Board on June 26. The city noted that progress had been made to repair the porch and clean up debris from the back yard. (Screenshot via Google Street View)

997 Bye St. (West Akron) — This property was originally recommended for demolition by city officials due to vacancy, compliance with housing orders, tax delinquency and the property’s unregistered status. 

The board granted a 60-day extension, subject to the property owner obtaining proper permits for repairs, maintaining property security, keeping the space free of garbage and making improvements to the exterior.

What qualifies an Akron property for demolition?

The following factors qualify properties for demolition:

  • Vacant or abandoned structures 
  • Unsafe conditions 
  • Health and safety hazards 
  • Failure to make ordered repairs

Once a complaint is made about the property, it is inspected to determine whether there is a violation. If deemed valid, an order is issued to make repairs in a given timeframe.

According to the city, property owners have 30 days to appeal the housing board’s decision to the Akron Court of Common Pleas.     

The Housing Compliance Division explained at the June 26 meeting the city is continuing to work on demolition requests dating back as far as 2021. However, properties can be expedited through the demolition process if deemed necessary.

Housing Appeals Board meetings are held monthly on the fourth Thursday of every month in Akron City Council Chambers, located on the third floor of the Municipal Building at 166 S. High St. 

Meetings begin at 9 a.m. and continue until all cases are reviewed. 

Citizens can make a complaint, and violations can also be discovered by referrals from other agencies or inspector observations. Residents looking to file a complaint can call 311 or email a complaint form to HousingCodeComplaints@akronohio.gov.

See Documenter Ken Evans’ notes here:

Housing Appeals Board – Board meeting 06_26_2025Download

Akron Documenters trains and pays residents to document local government meetings with notes and live-tweet threads. We then make those meeting summaries available as a new public record.