Council votes to condemn apartments
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on October 25, 2005 1:50 PM
City Council members voted to condemn a dilapidated apartment building located at 300 Randall Lane at their meeting Monday night.
The building contains 24 apartments, with four currently occupied, said Ed Cianfarra, Goldsboro's chief building inspector.
"All of the units, including those that are currently occupied, are below North Carolina minimum housing standards," he said.
Cianfarra said flood damage, wiring problems, holes in the parking lot and rotting wood were among the conditions leading to the condemnation recommendation. The property also might require additional inspection for asbestos, he added.
Mark Gourley, president of the Maplewood Home Owners Association, spoke to council members before the meeting. He said that neighbors in Maplewood see the building as an eyesore and fear its condition might lead to a decrease in property value throughout the area.
"Some residents of Maplewood can see this building from their back yards," Gourley said. "We would like to see it torn down."
Now that the building has been condemned by council, city staff will level the structure and clear the lot. Upon completion of the project, the building owner, Calvin Hodgin, will be billed for the services.
Cianfarra said Hodgin has been given multiple opportunities to bring the apartments up to code but has ignored concerns voiced by city officials.
When told the property was coming before the council for potential condemnation, Hodgin delivered a letter to the mayor's office requesting more time to bring it up to code.
Officials denied his request, arguing that he was given multiple warnings over a long time period and failed to comply with minimum housing standards.
Hodgin could not be reached for comment.