Fall Round of Hennepin County Tax Forfeitures

It's that time of year again, where seasons may change but the risk of tax-forfeited properties being sold to slumlords does not.  A nineteen-page list of Minneapolis tax forfeitures was recently sent to neighborhood groups from the city of Minneapolis.  Credit where credit is due:  I've been critical of the city's policies surrounding vacant houses, but they've been a good partner on tax forfeitures.  Specifically, we used to get lists with only a few days to respond with neighborhood organizational positions on what to do with these houses and vacant lots.  The city really went to bat for our communities with the argument that this simply wasn't enough turnaround time.  Now we have until November 26th to submit comments.

The Jordan neighborhood has roughly two dozen such tax forfeitures, although for the purpose of this and subsequent blog posts, I will focus only on houses and not vacant land.  As I took a look at each Jordan property, like 2122 Ilion Ave N pictured above, I came to two conclusions.  There wasn't a single one I'd tear down (except the one that was already demolished by the time I got there), and there wasn't a single one I'd consider an acceptable slumlord acquisition.  So it's time to put our city and county government on notice:  We are watching how this process plays out, and it better result in a better north Minneapolis.

Jordan has a baker's dozen tax-forfeited properties with structures on them.  Twelve, technically, but the thirteenth was an arson-damaged home that was torn down after the list was generated.  Aside from the Ilion house, we have...

Mr. Slummy's Buildings Registered as Vacant, Condemned

Post and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

Wait, they weren't already?

The foreclosure process hasn't yet finished up over at 2515 3rd St N, but now the building has been listed as condemned.  The collective response to that development is shock that it took over two years from the point where the property was open to trespass to the date when condemnation was posted at the property.  The wheels of regulatory services do turn, albeit ever so slowly.

Its partner to the north, 2519 3rd St N, has several boards over openings along the side and rear of the house.  This property was condemned in October of last year, and continues to go downhill.  It's too bad, because Amro seemed to be doing at least slightly good work over here.

There aren't too many homes out there that I would celebrate their demolition, but these two are among them.

Mr. Slummy Loses Judgment, Served with Foreclosure!

Post and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

Mohammed Amro of Amro's Properties Inc., informally known in the NoMi blogosphere as "Mr. Slummy," has been served with foreclosure papers on 2515 3rd Street North.  A brief s(l)ummary of this property, as well as what specifically led to the foreclosure filing can be found at the Johnny Northside post "Mr. Slummy Owes Some Money."

As to the papers now posted at the property, a sheriff's sale is now scheduled for November 9, 2011.  Amro contracted out tens of thousands of dollars' worth of work to Siwek Lumber & Millwork, but has not paid them for work performed.  So Siwek responded with a judgment, demanding among other things...

Same Problem Properties, Different Fluorescent Placards

Post and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

Slowly but surely the city of Minneapolis is moving forward with its demolition of the infamous property at 2222 4th St N.  Given Mahmood Khan's persistent legal battles, I wouldn't recommend holding one's breath until demolition actually happens.  But a pink placard has now been posted, informing passersby that the house has a date with the backhoe of doom. 

Not too far away, we have two properties in a row owned by Mohammed Amro - he of the "Mr. Slummy" moniker AND the slumlord inadvertently responsible for the "Hawthorne Hawkman" nickname.  The property in question though, is not 2515 3rd St N, where a hole to china was attempted, and the owner clearly intended to make a mockery of city zoning by bringing in at least four units to an area where only duplexes are allowed.  The second floor open to the elements, and the grass growing tall enough to warrant a 311 call are pretty strong indicators that Mr. Slummy has given up that dream.  Amro, however, owns the adjacent house at 2519 3rd St N.  From the exterior, it has looked like he's done somewhat respectable work there.  If we didn't have the immediate juxtaposition of 2515 3rd, one could almost assume Mr. Slummy was not, well, slummy.

But then there was the fire.  For almost a year, the house has sat vacant, with little or no repairs done.  A week ago, a shiny new placard was added to the regulatory rainbow.  One would think that somehow the house's fire-damaged status caused the citation.  Instead, the house is unfit for habitation because of unsafe levels of lead.  This is a first.  Other slumlords like to hide behind lead abatement (even as they strip historic elements of a property).  Mr. Slummy aparently took the ball in the complete opposite direction.

How long before one or both of these properties sports a similar pink card, calling for demolition?

Fire at a Mohammed Amro Property

Post and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

The two properties down the street from me at 2515 and 2519 3rd St N have played a key role in my blogging efforts.  The owner, Mohammed Amro, has been coined "Mr. Slummy" on the Johnny Northside blog, due to his extraordinary flouting of both city housing ordinances and common sense.  After I confronted Amro regarding his illegal excavation at 2515 3rd, an anonymous commenter on JNS was the first person to use the moniker "The Hawthorne Hawkman."

Well, on Sunday I was out for a stroll in the neighborhood when I saw the family that lives just south of Amro's properties standing outside and looking rather concerned.  They had noticed smoke billowing out of a second-story window and alertly called 911.  It should be noted that Amro has been nothing short of a complete disaster of a neighbor to these folks, and yet they still had the common decency to do the right thing.

And thankfully, no one was home when the fire occurred.  It appears as if no one in the house nor any firefighters were seriously hurt either.  For Amro's sake, let's hope the damage is minimal, because...