Wrecking Cincinnati, 8/13/08

517 Delta Avenue, Columbia Tusculum
Single-family
DOB: 1880
Died: August 2008
Cause of death: Severe instability of the hillside in front of the house put the entire structure in danger, as sagging of the front porch and cracks in the foundation were noticed by inspectors. There was also a threat of several large trees falling onto Delta Avenue.

The collapsing front retaining wall gave way in earnest in April, spilling onto the sidewalk and causing the City to schedule the house for hazard abatement. The house was in foreclosure and had been vacated by the City in February. No maintenance had been done on the house in quite some time, and the City pulled the trigger on demolition.

Incidentally, orders to repair the retaining wall date to 2003, and inspectors signed off on the work and closed the case that same year. Apparently, the work wasn't very good. Inspectors even noticed as much in orders issued years later.