Historic Preservation: A Criminal Offense

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Permalink Reply by Annette K Weber on October 2, 2011 at 7:50pm

oh my goodness, how could something like this happen, you are obviously doing the right thing, my heart is with you and hoping things will change for the better, I've been working on my house for 25 years and it never ends when you are doing it yourself.  From the pictures you are doing beautiful work.  Your neighbor is not a happy person and should get some therapy.  I'm sorry for what you are going through.  You have my support.

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Permalink Reply by Linda on October 3, 2011 at 4:16pm

Oh, my gosh, Nina! I feel so bad for you and the harrassment you're going through. As a resident of the same county, I understand how sometimes irrational government "leadership" can be. I admire your service to Lakewood in law enforcement, the historical society, and in working on your house. With the real estate market the way it is, you'd think the city would be more willing to work with those who are part of the solution. Lakewood has a unique make-up; many properties could use your passion, determination and hard work. If I can think of anything to help, I'll do what I can.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Hendrickson on October 3, 2011 at 6:29pm

Good Grief!

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Permalink Reply by KenK on October 4, 2011 at 7:28am

Sorry that there are strange politics and a even stranger neighbor hampering your efforts. Note: small yappy dogs are a good deterrent for intrusive neighbors.  :) 

 

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Permalink Reply by Nina Smith on October 4, 2011 at 1:40pm

Thanks everyone for the support. If you wouldn't mind commenting on my blog or even better, sending emails to the city officials voicing your opinion, I'd very much appreciate it.

 

Ken- I have a 130lb Mastiff (he can be seen in many of my pics). That doesn't deter this idiot neighbor from climbing in my window or over my 6' privacy fence. Both times he was lucky my dog wasn't nearby.

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Permalink Reply by KenK on October 4, 2011 at 3:44pm

I've added a post to your blog.   Such ridiculousness and I can relate to your neighbor issues.

Your Mastiff is a cutie. It's too bad your pup wasn't around when the neighbor decided to trespass. The results would have been hilarious. I imagine someone missing the bottom half of their jeans.   :) 

Best. 

 

Ken

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Permalink Reply by Nina Smith on October 13, 2011 at 3:12pm

I thank everyone for their support in this. My story has been published to Lakewood Patch and the Cleveland Scene Magazine. I've received some horrific emails and comments from people detailing the nightmares they've been through with the city court/bldg dept. It is unimaginable. 

Again, the support is greatly appreciated. Please keep sharing my story.

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Permalink Reply by Lair Tienter on October 17, 2011 at 11:57am

I feel for you dealing with the powers to be.  Myself, having been arrested for owning and maintaining a condemned home, understand wanting to throw your hands in dismay. My story takes place in Denver, CO.in the early 80's.  My partner and I bought a condemned house.  It was boarded up and had sat in that condition for 17 years when we made the purchase. I was the working partner and he did the other end of the job.  He had gotten the proper building permits in his name alone so my name did not appear on the permits.  Since my name was on the title and not on the permits there was a bench warrent put out for me.  They ignored the address on the permits and just looked for the owner.  The first one I went willingly but the next two times I ran and hide, choosing to fight through an attorney. Spending a lot of money I didn't have at the time. Funny part of the whole thing was when I was arrested I was on the roof repairing rafters and sheeting.  You would think someone would have had an AH-HA moment during this whole process. Lair  

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Permalink Reply by Susan on October 18, 2011 at 8:58pm

Nina, I see you posted this back in September, but I have not been on this site for many weeks.  I live in Lorain, Ohio, and have been restoring my house for almost 14 years.  I am a police officer and work off duty jobs very close to Lakewood.  Please send me an email at victoriangemeiner1903@yahoo.com.  I have just the attorney you need.  He lives in, and has restored his home in Akron, Ohio, and has a thriving law practice there.  Sue

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Permalink Reply by desiree mccrorey on January 26, 2012 at 4:32pm

It is astounding and discouraging that the with all that needs to be addressed these days, those individuals in the legal system and city government felt compelled to throw common sense under the bus. As bad as it sounds, you might have gotten national headlines by letting them arrest you - an action that would likely have placed lots of unwanted focus on the situation. Shining a hot bright revealing light on their criminal stupidity and flagrant disregard for using tax payers' dollars effectively might have encouraged them to rethink their position.

Ideally, you could have sued the city for wrongful prosecution, facilitated getting the building inspector fired, the judge removed from office and gotten all the money you needed to have teams of contractors come in to completely mess up the job. :)

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Permalink Reply by kevin on February 16, 2012 at 8:31pm

 Wow ,this is the reason I almost didn't buy an historic home, I live in cambridge md and feel lucky  the historic people here are pretty laid back and actually helpful. Although it seems that there have been issues, There is a home painted black with flourescent green trim, that i think was due to a disagreement . currently I do small jobs that don't bring out the forces and permits, I'll fix the deck boards and paint ,fix a window and paint rebuild a brick corner and so on. My first expierience with a hist group was on a property in historic and wetlands ,you just about needed a permit to cut the grass !! We needed to take down a tree that was threating an historic  structure,it was also a perch for a pair of eagles (add another agency) I'm sure they could have used any of the other thosand trees to sit in (it was a perch not a nest) the dam birds where just lazy,well the tree did come down in a storm !! after all the agency's wieghing in on why we couldnt cut the tree down ,who pays for the damage ? !! By the way the insurance was making us take down the tree !! On second thought we should be glad we didn't have to put the tree back up for the birds ! (lazy critters) 

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