MOUNT VERNON — The house at 204 E. Sugar St. will soon have a bit more curb appeal, but it still has issues that need fixed.
The house was declared a nuisance in January 2017 following a drug investigation. In accordance with city code, city officials put plywood over the windows and doors and ordered the owner, Philippe J. Lesage, to clean up the property.
After hearing evidence that security measures are now installed, Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel ordered the city to remove the plywood. However, he left the nuisance abatement order intact for at least another 30 days.
Philippe M. Lesage, who is now guardian for his father, has removed trash from the interior and exterior of the house. With the exception of cabinets, a few bigger items of furniture, and some shattered glass that needs cleaned up, the house is empty. He has not yet replaced the doors as ordered, but has installed a security system that includes video surveillance, three motion detectors and wireless transmitters on the doors.
He disagreed with continuing the nuisance order, saying the house is now no worse than other houses in the city.
“The reason for the nuisance has been abated, and it should not be coming against me,” he told Wetzel during a status conference hearing on Thursday. “To continue to be a nuisance status seems unjust.”
“What I am trying to do is keep the case coming before the court on a regular basis and see progress,” said Wetzel. “I am not going to lift the injunction until you get it sold. There is no reason why you can’t sell the house with court jurisdiction.
“The purpose of jurisdiction is being diligent in getting things done and out of probate,” he added.
Sugar Street resident Mike Hillier has reservations about additional timelines. Saying that Lesage has not complied with the order to install doors, he noted that Lesage previously said that once a Pleasant Street house his father owned was sold, that money would go toward fixing up 204 E. Sugar St. He said that has not happened.
“So when I hear timelines, I don’t believe them,” said Hillier, who is also 4th Ward city councilman.
Hillier acknowledged that the house now meets city code and that removing the plywood increases the curb appeal, but said the house is lowering neighborhood values.
“I know the neighbors are getting tired of it. One of the neighbors is interested in buying the house but can’t get a price. It can’t go on forever,” he said.
Lesage said he needs to get an appraisal and quotes on what it will take to bring the house up to salable condition. To do the improvements, he needs approval from the probate court. He agreed he had an offer of $15,000 to buy the house.
“From that standpoint, I could sell it today for pennies on the dollar,” he said. “But is that in my dad’s best interest?”
Referring to the money from the sale of the Pleasant Street house, Lesage said the majority went to clear mortgages in default. The rest went toward cleaning up debris on Sugar Street and taking care of the house his father currently lives in.
“What was discussed in the street six or nine months ago was before I knew the scope of my father’s indebtedness,” he said.
Lesage said that in addition to Sugar Street and his father’s residence, there is another house in Cleveland that needs repairs. He said he is dependent on the probate court as to which of the three houses money will go toward.
“The money from Pleasant Street is for all houses, not just this one [on Sugar Street]. I have to go by probate court,” he said.
Wetzel scheduled another status conference in 30 days. Lesage has until then to get new doors installed and check with probate court to authorize the sale of the property. The city has until then to remove the plywood.
