Six houses honored for repairs 



 Mayor Tom Henry with the owners of four of the properties and Neighborhood Code staff members at the inaugural Gold Star awards

Mayor Tom Henry and the staff of Neighborhood Code Enforcement recognized the property owners of six houses with the inaugural Gold Star awards for repairs and improvements.

The awards celebrate owners who have worked with Neighborhood Code to repair these properties, remove all code violations and ultimately stabilize neighborhoods.

“I'€™m honored to recognize six outstanding examples of how cooperative property owners can make a difference in Fort Wayne neighborhoods. Neighborhood Code Enforcement exists to ensure a communitywide standard of residential property maintenance and looks to work with homeowners to bring properties into compliance,” Mayor Henry said. “These improvements take significant investments of time and money, perhaps over a year or more. The City of Fort Wayne is pleased to showcase their efforts.”  

Five property owners performed the needed repairs using the work plan process, where enforcement officers work with owners to create a realistic timeline for the necessary work. Owners who make repairs in accordance with the work plan and cooperate with Neighborhood Code can often avoid tickets and fines.

“Neighborhood Code is really about developing and improving our community,” said NCE Director Cindy Joyner. “We are committed to helping owners bring their houses into compliance and increasing opportunities for appreciation in real estate values.”

Each property had a slightly different reason for the start of the improvements, but all ended with a similar result: a positive example of what owners can do to improve properties.

'€¢    2115 W Packard Ave.: The current owners purchased this property adjacent to their home in late 2007 after it had been vacant for more than a year. The property had citations for a damaged foundation, deteriorating siding, damaged eaves and broken windows. Enforcement Officer Richard Schlup worked with the owners on a work plan, where the owners did a complete renovation of the interior and exterior of the house and garage. In June the property was cleared of all violations.
'€¢    909 W. Wayne St.: Located in the historic West Central neighborhood, Neighborhood Code Enforcement found numerous exterior violations including deteriorating siding and trim, damaged eaves and deteriorated windows when Enforcement Officer Richard Schlup went in January 2006 to secure a front door that had been kicked in. Using a work plan, the owner did the painstaking removal of lead-based paint by hand, returning the home to its original glory. Although it took longer than originally scheduled, the owner consistently proceeded on the necessary repairs and was cleared of all violations in July 2008.
'€¢    2020 Thompson Ave.: In January, this property was cited for exterior violations to the house and garage. The property needed repairs on the soffits, eaves, foundation, siding and windows. Using a work plan, the owner was able to make the necessary repairs in only about four months. Enforcement Officer Richard Schlup cleared this property of all violations in May.
'€¢    604 W. Rudisill Blvd.: This property had violations dating back to 1995, but it wasn'€™t until the owners purchased the property in March 2007 that the much-needed improvements began. Starting with four pages of code violations, the owners removed trash and debris then made significant improvements to the interior and exterior over a year and a half. The house has been completely renovated, making it an obvious choice for a Gold Star award.
'€¢    1727 W. Fourth St.: In September 2007, this foreclosed home suffered significant damage from an arson, becoming a neighborhood eyesore. Enforcement Officer Mark Salomon responded to a complaint in March to find the house open and in poor repair. Neighborhood Code contacted the owners about violations, and they got to work on the repairs using the work plan process. They repaired the bathrooms, electrical wiring, ceilings and floor. Because of the consistent progress and the end result, this house earned a Gold Star.
'€¢    429 Greenwood Ave.: A change in ownership in October 2007 prompted the start of the rehabilitation of this property that already had experienced two fires, a page and a half of violations and was being reviewed for demolition. A problem since September 2004, it needed repairs to the roof, floors, walls, ceiling, porch and windows. The new owner also took advantage of the work plan process with consistent repairs, and in November, Enforcement Officer Mark Salomon cleared this property of all violations.