When I am in court, my focus is on the safety of the building that is the subject of my prosecution. I don’t know that I’ve paid that […]
Building Codes / Code Enforcement / property maintenance
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Healthy homes conference Part 1
This week I was a speaker at the 2011 Lead Poisoning Prevention Conference in Springfield, IL that was about so much more than lead poisoning. It was really […]
Code Enforcement / Foreclosure / Politics / Politics and building codes / property maintenance
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Fewer inspectors, more problem properties
One of the very unfortunate consequences of the economic downturn is the layoff of code enforcement personnel. Peoria, Illinois is facing the layoff of about 1/3 of its […]
Code Enforcement / Foreclosure / property maintenance
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Demolition One Solution to Foreclosed Homes
NPR did a story yesterday on how some banks have decided to demolish foreclosed properties in Cleveland and give the land to local government for its land bank […]
Building Codes / Code Enforcement / Court cases / Fire Prevention / property maintenance / rental inspections
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Illegal basement bedroom leads to tragedy
Persons who do work without a permit or allow bedrooms in basements that are in violation of the building code risk more than fines. In a tragic case […]
Code Enforcement / Fire Prevention / Foreclosure / Ordinances / Politics and building codes / property maintenance
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Banks Leave Property in Limbo
The Chicago Tribune has taken on lenders over the devastation that has befallen neighborhoods while they sit back and let property deteriorate. I’ve noticed a phenomenon in my […]
Code Enforcement / Fire Prevention / Liability / property maintenance
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Insurance company denies coverage in fire
Insurance companies can be allies in the fight for life/safety compliance. They have considerable power over property. If persons insured by the companies don’t live up to the […]
Building Codes / Code Enforcement / Court cases / property maintenance
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Contempt of court
The creator of Phonehenge, a collection of oddball structures I’ve previously written about, has been sent to jail for disobeying a court order to demolish the buildings which […]
Code Enforcement / Foreclosure / property maintenance
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Vacant properties and the downward spiral
The Chicago Tribune has a very good article about how vacant properties (due to the foreclosure crisis) are decimating poor communities because of the increase in crime. This […]
Code Enforcement / Foreclosure / Ordinances / property maintenance
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No end in sight for foreclosures and dropping home prices
Thirteen percent of U.S. homes are now vacant according to a new report in the Huffington Post. Prices are dropping but people who have the money to buy […]