The Examiner recently reported a house fire in the 300 block of South Fuller (5-12-10). Their brief report indicated an “unknown” cause of the fire that completely gutted the home. This incendiary event at 308 South Fuller happened to be only a few blocks from 1306 W. Maple, the other abandon home discussed in this Blog. And, yes, both are in the award-winning multi-million-dollar M/TRC Neighborhood Revitalization area and the proposed 12 Blocks West area. The real story of 308 S. Fuller is easily assessable on the city’s official website indicating its extensive code enforcement history. In the last 6 years, this property has been cited for code violations 24 times (this may be a city record) with a recent action noting unsanitary conditions resulting in an “Unsafe to Occupy” posting. And the utilities have been turned off since last year. The rest of this story is that the nicely renovated and well-kept home next door experienced damage from the fire also (see photo above). The vinyl siding shriveled up from the heat, at least one window was broken from falling debris, and there was likely even smoke damage. By the way, the IFD did a great job in putting out the fire and minimizing the damage to the adjacent property. This story begins like many other stories in town where property is owned by a person or an organization that doesn’t live in this neighborhood and who obviously doesn’t care about the families who live on this block. So if the home was vacant and the utilities were turned off, then was the cause spontaneous combustion? The collateral damage from problem properties goes beyond the heat generated from an arson fire. The problems in Old Town are clear but are city leaders getting the whole story? I guess we will see if the folks igniting the 12 Blocks West program can “take the heat” and accomplish what M/TRC and City Hall has failed to do.
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