Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Wrecking Cincinnati, 9/30/08

2333 Kemper Lane, Walnut Hills
Multi-family
DOB: 1885
Died: September 2008
Cause of death: A three-alarm fire on April 8, 2007 causing significant damage to the first-floor rear of the building and spreading to the second floor and attic. Damage was estimated at $200,000, and three people were left homeless.

The management company that owned the building was seeking bids to rebuild or demolish the fire damaged portions of the structure. Later, the owners alerted the City that they had no money to barricade the open windows on the ground floor, which is no surprise given the building's history of code violations. A pre-prosecution hearing resulted in a 30-day extension, but no work, plan, or Vacant Building Maintenance License.

The building was foreclosed in October 2007 and purchased by a man from Texas in December 2007. The house is being hand wrecked by the owner, and parts of it are being salvaged.