Another Bradford City Board of Health meeting Tuesday means another five properties were added to the list of public nuisances.
This time, the properties were 246, 265 and 276 South Ave., 125 High St. and 52 East Ave.
For 246 South Ave., owned by Robert Erickson, health director Brandon Plowman explained a fire at the residence in June of 2023 “compromised the entire structure.”
He continued, “The roof had burned out on one side of the house. All of the windows are broken.”
There is still combustible material inside the structure and Plowman said, “It should be considered dangerous.”
Board member Kris Goll asked why property maintenance wasn’t issuing violations on the property, saying it could be bringing in some funds for the city.
Plowman said, “We’re working on correcting that for the future.”
The structures at 265 and 275 South Ave. were both owned by Sufficient Home LLC/ Benjamin Robeson of Eldred. At the first structure, Plowman said there are structural problems with the foundation, the metal roof wasn’t finished and let water in, the siding is missing in several places, many of the windows are boarded up or broken and the front porch has conditional problems.
The house hasn’t been occupied since 2018, Plowman said. He explained he had spoken to the owner, who was planning renovations until funding ran out.
At 275 South Ave., there are holes in the roof, the siding is deteriorated, the foundation has issues, the majority of the interior is gutted and the yard is filled with debris, including asbestos sheeting.
At 125 High St., owned by Roberto Perez, Plowman said the house’s interior “is filled from the floor to the rafters with belongings. This house is crammed with stuff. This is an extreme fire hazard.”
While he was there for the inspection, he saw a raccoon inside the home. He added that behind the house is a large circle filled about eight inches deep with water bottles and pop bottles and other debris.
Fred Proper, president of the board, said, “This place is just full and falling apart.”
At 52 East Ave., owned by Robert Shaffer, who is deceased, the overall conditions of the structure have deteriorated over time. Plowman said with the location and the current conditions of the interior and exterior of the home, “This structure will not be salvageable.”
He said there were large holes in some of the floors, and in other places, the floors were spongy. Ceilings collapsed in places and the second floor was deteriorated.
City solicitor Mark Hollenbeck and board solicitor Tyler Hannah gave a brief explanation of the court process necessary when heirs aren’t found.
