While I was watching the Celtics/Bulls game, someone set fire to the abandoned building just catercorner from me on Holmden Court (the alley behind my house). Either the fire started back up around 3am or the arsonist came back to finish the job because the street was clogged with fire trucks. This is the second arson less than a block from me in two months, and the fifth (that I know of) within half a square mile from me in the last 2 years.
These last two were both “abandoned” houses with squatters in them. Rumor has it that the bank who owned the house behind me (which was slated for demolition) had the house set aflame so they could recoup as much from the property as possible. Rumor also holds that some kids set the fire, or, less likely, someone set fire to keep warm.
The house had been abandoned since I moved into the neighborhood and over the course of two years it was peeled like an onion and pitted like an avocado. By the time whomever set fire to the place set fire to the place, all that was left inside the structure was some crazy-looking linoleum.
Now, there are quite a few serious problems that are touched on directly or tangentially in this post:
- Habitual Arson
- Foreclosed Homes
- Squatters
- Folks stealing siding, wiring and anything of value from abandoned properties
- Crazy Linoleum
and one very good thing. Thank you Cleveland Fire Department, you guys are great.
While the arsons are troubling, there is much that is great on my street and in my neighborhood. I have new neighbors who are renovating the home next door to me, and the children who appear to own the house catercorner from me on Holmden Avenue are fixing the place up quite nicely.
The new Buhrer Elementary school one block away is nearing completion, and I just found out, will be remaining a Dual Language School. Now if only Debbie could get a job as an art teacher there, all would be set. However, finding an open position in the CMSD isn’t the easiest.