HomeMy WebLinkAboutMiscellaneous Substandard Building 2008-11-16
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Gerry Moseley
2873 Taylor Street
Eugene, Oregon 97405
November 16, 2008
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Liz Miller, Planning Department .
Lisa Harper, Building and Development Services
City of Springfield
225 Fifth Street
Springfield, OR 97477
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Re: 3920 East 15th Street, Eugene, Oregon
Dear Ms. Miller and Ms. Harper:
1 have been working with your departments for about six weeks as part of
my purchase of the property situated at 3920 East 15th Street in the Glenwood area. This
was a property that had a safety complaint lodged against the owner after he tried to evict
a tenant whom he felt may have been stealing from him. Your inspectors were at a loss
to show compliance, wrote the owner, and authorized removing electrical service to the
site. The owner decided to sell the property which is when I took interest and began to
work carefully with you in resolving the issues. (1 had been looking for a mobile home
site in that area for several years.)
After numerous verbal discussions with various City of Springfield department
representatives this letter is to up date you as to our progress and to request your further
assistance in completing this step of the effort.
Just after purchase on October 14th, 1 wrote Ms. Miller following up on our prior
conversation and explaining my findings related to Lane County septic approvals at the
property. 1 detailed my anticipated three step approach to satisfying the current health
and safety concerns and bringing the property back to its useful life. Six or more loads of
debris went to the dump and a subsequent city inspection had confirmed the original
living structure as a trailer/mobile home. Suggestions on approaching the electrical and
plumbing safety concerns were made.
Structural: On October 16th, 2008, I received an unexpected call from Robert Castile
who indicated his role over the structural aspects of returning the property for occupancy.
After this discussion and hearing my clear expectation that only the original living unit, a
studio sized space, would be returned for occupancy he indicated he would need a
properly working smoke detector, stove unit, and toilet for approval. The second
building would be returned to owner's storage and a utility space (washer/dryer had been
moved elsewhere during an improper use of the site.)
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Electrical: Just after purchase 1 hired a licensed contractor, Ralph Brown, to begin
immediate restoration of the electrical service to the small living unit and its auxiliary
service and storage building. Ralph and 1 obtained the electrical permit and he has
worked with two inspectors from your offices to complete the work indicated (new
mobile home meter/switch box at the pole, service lines, moving and re-wiring the
secondary box, and checking and testing the various circuits, etc.) One week ago Mr.
Dixon gave him a list to complete for the tw~.earts of the property (now done) and
indicated that we should next speak to Ms. 'J!!oi~rQ:S to the final approval.
Plumbing: At least two city inspections have been made to the property, one of which
confirmed the more "mobile" nature of the original unit. A licensed plumber reviewed
the property and is ready to complete the task to satisfy the necessary health/safety
concerns. He asked me to request a pre-inspection visit from the city to identify the
specifics to be undertaken.
Permit History: Meanwhile I have undertaken the task of the missing data on approvals
and permits and 1 have some initial findings to bring forward for your review:
Lane County, City, Electrical and Court records:
a. Tax Appraisal information
a. The appraisal jacket included a sheet showing 10/1975
appraisal of the site (owner B. D. Vimont) showing two
structures, one indicated as a mobile home and a second utility
building of approximately the same size as present. This form
has a second appraisal in 01/1988 striking out the mobile home
reference and changing it to "cover over a 8 x 24' trailer that is
beeing (sp) lived in".
b. The Deed records provide the chain of ownership from a
probate record in 1950 (Jensen) to Vimonts to Way, etc.
b. Lane County compliance records (Steve and Judy Williams)
a. Steve checked for folders on the property and found no more
b. Williams researched the records for early permit records and
located a master sheet showing the tax lots and permits granted
"in the sixties and seventies" which she uses for compliance
checks. There is a permit to Vimont issued in 1964 (#2393) for
this tax lot. She did not have a copy; presumably it was
transferred to Springfield if it still existed. She recommended 1
check with the city and with the electrical proViders for part of
the background information.
c. Williams provided a copy of the present computer record that
shows two improvements on the property in 1950, one lOx 16
and one 12 x 24', each with "condition efT 1940."
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SUB/EWEB records:
a. Sub employees indicate that the account was transferred to them in
October, 200 I. They do not have any early historical permit
information but they gave me both the electrical meter number and
water meter number (early history likely Glenwood water district) and
location codes. They (Linda) referred me to EWEB who had given
them this information. .
b. EWEB services (Marcus) indicated that EWEB only connected a
meter with proper approvals on hand, but did not keep that information
itself after making the connection-they just followed ownership with
their accounts and billing. He had the meter number researched and
called me back to report they had billing information starting from
1988 forward.
City of Eugene:
a. City of Eugene computer records showed no new information.
b. Request was put in for the City researcher to check all early
background records for permits as they may be required or available
(microfiche, etc.) This fee based report has not yet been completed
and returned to me.
Probate Record:
a. The court maintains a film record of the Wills and court records
related to each property transfer. The initial record 1 have seen for this
property was in 1950 in which Elette Jensen, deceased, had her Will
probated. The material in this file shows that the property in question
was being used as living quarters from earlier in the j 940s. Her cstmc
::fmal aCColli1ting~: sho\-vs rental iIlcoille of $30 per 1110nth for the
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son. 1 would note that 3920 East 15th was the address to which the
~~heir at Ie\"': 3.I1d legatee" st'n got his maiL
b. Axel Jensen was 36 in 1948 and so would be 96 today... It seems I
cannot query his memory of their pernlits and oWllership!
In conclusion. ba...rring u ha.'1dfu! of microfiche permits from the City of Eugene research,
I camlOt say with certainty what permits were required over this time period, or permitted
along the 'Nay. There i~ the one permit frL'n1 1964 ~'1U the f~ct L~2.~ decLrl'': t0mp(l,,-,~it':: ,1,-,
not act on their o\\'n authority. And, until ct.:::...nged under this current pem1it, the rnDbi!e
ele.:t:ic SG'-\:ic;; i.,"':;~ ~I-l;: 3,~i-,";~' .3::\"~:: ,~i"'.:d ~y;..:; ,;3 ~~..~ i"'.:(-ig~...t'':'i'S i......:.t,iIc- ~"'.:C.ii....:- 3('i.'-v'i':2 -.,---,:~...ic~-;
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1 do have evidence that the property has been continually lived in since before 1950, and
not abandoned. (I am uncertain if Elette Jensen lived there in the forties, but she may
have.) Up until the last half-dozen years the property, and its improvements, seem to
have been well cared for... even if in an artistic style. The circumstances earlier this year
made it difficult for City of Springfield inspectors to get a correct picture.
As mentioned in my earlier letter meeting health and safety standards and re-gaining
approval for occupancy is the first step. After "dotting' , i' s and crossing '(' s ", 1 would
hope that the electrical and structural are complete and only the p!mnbing check n:rrl2.!ns.
This will bring me back to original purposes use and the privilege to work on the nex!
steps 1 have outlined.
There is some urgency in my wanting to get the necessary permits campleted far
occupancy. 1 have experienced some vandalism on the property and I doubt it wijj be too
sec~~!"e for !TIY rent':!! st0!'?.ge use un!!! someone is back in the s!1.ldio on :l regular b~s!s. !
mTI replacing a fe!1ce~ as mentioned in your office tbis past nlonth; it nlay help.
1 !la.llks for YOU! assiS!arlCe in this matter.
Cordiaiiy,
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541-521-0616