City Tackles Blighted Houses

The Bessemer City Council received a report from the City Manager Tom Chatel at Monday's meeting, that focused on three blighted Bessemer houses.

The first hose that was discussed is located at 1802 South Barber Street and is owned by Rob Federighi, who resides in Chicago.

Federighi, had written the City Manager suggesting that he can no longer finish fixing the Barber St dwelling. However, Chatel was contacted by a neighbor who expressed interest in working with Federighi in renovating the house
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“I referred to it as a blighted structure, I think at this point I would like refer to the structure as a semi-blighted structure” Said Chatel. “ The neighbor has had a history of restoring structures in the past.”

Chatel said that he would like to see the owner and the neighbor put something together that would leave the property on the tax rolls, and recommended that the disposition for the house be tabled until next regular commission meeting.

1717 Hadley Street was described as a seriously blighted structure that will be available at the tax auction in August. “Nobody’s going to enhance their home living next to a structure like that” Chatel told the council. The house will become available through the August Tax Auction. The Council approved purchasing the dwelling in August or at the October Tax Sale.

Finally, 303 South Case Street a house owned by Gary Rund. “This has been an issue for a number of years” said Chatel “The structure has become simply untenable.” Chatel told the council that the owner has been contacted on a number of occasions and has not responded.
A Final Notice has been sent to Rund, stating those conditions that subject the house to the city’s blight ordinance. Failing to correct the blight issues, the city will do it and charge Rudd for the effort.