Problems at 433 Lafayette St. have included drug use, a rat infestation and people using the restroom in 5-gallon buckets because utilities have been turned off for years, according to neighbors and police.
The Columbia Board of Aldermen ordered demolition of the longtime eyesore Tuesday after a public hearing.
Property owner Angela Jefferson tried to convince officials she intended to clean the property, which is currently uninhabited. Neighbor Philippi Green complained about the conditions during a lengthy discussion.
Mayor Justin McKenzie told the Board that the home had not had water, sewer or electric services for several years and that the yard was knee deep.
“My land taxes are paid up and I just need time to try to get everything done,” Jefferson told the Board.
Ward 3 Alderwoman Anna Evans addressed the property, discussing the conditions and the timeline.
“In looking at the property it had been burned at one time,” Evans said. “According to some information from the fire chief, it is really in bad shape. There is a tape around it. I’m having problems with how much time it has gone on. The previous Board had talked about this property. We talked about water and sewer not being there for years.”
Jefferson said she had not been living at the residence, but people had been in it.
“People had been doing drugs in there,” she said. “They had kicked the back door in. I have not been living there.”
Evans continued her line of questioning about the home.
“With that being said, do you not think that the people who are living around there, with people going in and doing drugs, are not concerned?” she asked. “The community would see it as a safety hazard since you don’t live there.”
Jefferson said she had been working to clean out the structure and said she just needed to do some painting. Evans said the Board had major concerns about the home since it had not had water, sewer or electricity in several years. Evans said records indicated that the gas had been cut off in June 2010 to the residence. The gas meter was pulled in January 2011 and water cut off in April 2015. Electricity was cut off in 2016.
“You were there a whole year without water and sewer?” Evans asked.
“I would stay there some, but I was staying with my son and daughter,” Jefferson said.
Police Chief Mike Cooper said the home had been an ongoing problem.
“I had been on a complaint there several years ago and there wasn’t running water then,” he said. “There were several people living there. We had complaints because people were using the restroom in five-gallon buckets.”
Jefferson said she was not in the home at the time of the complaints and McKenzie informed her that as the owner she was responsible for the property.
“Those conditions are unacceptable and can’t be tolerated,” he said.
Green, a neighbor, then addressed the problems of having a dilapidated home next door.
“I used to give them water there,” he said. “They haven’t had water there as long as I can remember. I’ve been nice to them, but my house has been broken into four times. I’ve also had rats. My dog had killed three rats coming from the Jefferson home. It aggravates me.”
The discussions with Green continued for several minutes as he expressed concerns about the home.
“I really have a problem,” he said. “I need something done. I’m living with these conditions. If you come by 429 Lafayette, you’ll see a clean home. They have had opportunities. It is unfit to live in.”
After more than 10 minutes of discussions with Jefferson, Green, Building Inspector Lonnie Stringer and Fire Chief Jeff McKenzie, Ward 1 Alderman Wendell Hammond made a motion to obtain bids and demolish the property. Ward 4 Alderman Mike Smith seconded the motion and the Board approved it unanimously, with bids to be considered at the Sept. 19 meeting.
City Attorney Lawrence Hahn told Jefferson that she had 10 days to appeal the decision and explained that the cost of demolition would be placed on the land taxes.
“It is not going to be torn down before the third Tuesday of the month,” he said. “If the Board accepts a bid on Sept. 19, it could be torn down on Sept. 20. You will be left with a cleaned lot and you can put another house on the property.”
Jefferson then thanked the Board for listening and left the meeting.
Any further actions will be taken during the next regularly scheduled Board meeting at 4 p.m. on Sept. 19 at City Hall.
Pictured Above: The Columbia Board of Aldermen voted to demolish this Lafayette Street property during Tuesday’s meeting. | Photo by Charlie Smith
