Sanchez: B&I "violated my personal rights"

2139 Vine Street

For the second time in two years, property owner Michelle Sanchez has contacted Cincinnati City Council claiming that her personal rights have been violated by the Department of Buildings and Inspections (B&I).

At the request of Councilmember Cecil Thomas, Sanchez has submitted a letter containing 193 specific questions about alleged mistreatment in how her case has been handled.

Sanchez originally contacted City Council in March 2007, alleging the following mistreatment by B&I:

* Modifying names and dates on documents
* Refusal to acknowledge documents pertaining to the case
* Invading personal rights by doing a criminal background search
* Making verbal threats and threatening imprisonment and fines
* Public slandering by yelling personal affairs in a public arena

Sanchez owns a condemned building at 2139 Vine Street (BIRD'S EYE) that is currently a shell, which she purchased in May 2005.

Later that year, B&I issued condemnation orders on the property, citing extreme structure failure due to a collapsing retaining wall, a lack of lateral support, rotted sill plates and hazardous chimneys.

After B&I declared the house a public nuisance in mid-2006, architects from Brashear Bolton did a walkthrough of the property, deeming it "a good shell" and claiming that it was not in imminent danger of collapse.

Later inspection teams from Fields Architects, Advantage Group Engineers, Inc. and from Queen City Home Inspection, Inc. reached to the same conclusion.

The hazard abatement case was later dismissed by the Board of Building Appeals.

Sanchez is currently appealing a conviction by the Hamilton County Municipal Court for the code vioations. Hearings on the case will begin in April.

Although the building is not yet up to Vacant Building Maintenance License standards, she is making slow progress on repairs, having recently installed some new siding and windows to keep the structure water-tight.

A report from City Manager Milton Dohoney on the allegations is due by late February.