By DEANA STROISCH (deana.stroisch@sj-r.com), THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER, Posted Aug 12, 2011
City inspectors last week found dozens of code violations inside vacant buildings at one of Springfield’s largest apartment complexes. The owner of MacArthur Park Apartments was sent 11 letters, totaling about 55 pages, that outlined electrical, mechanical, plumbing and housing violations found during the Aug. 5 inspection. The city has given the owner,James Green Management of Granite City, seven days to get building permits to begin fixing the violations and 10 days to register each of the seven buildings that were inspected. The city can take the matter to administrative court if the buildings aren’t registered.
The violations ranged from missing windows and deadbolts, to exposed wiring and units full of rubbish and without water.
“The extent and the gravity of the violations are staggering,” said Ald. Joe McMenamin, whose Ward 7 includes the apartment complex in the 2700 block of South MacArthur Boulevard. “Mr. Green and his company’s gross neglect cheats our neighborhoods, the banks and his tenants, and we will bring him to justice.”
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The city requires a registration permit be obtained for any vacant building with two or more violations. The initial permit costs $100 for six months and $250 for every three months after that.
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McMenamin said he has been working for two months to get inspectors onto the property. After being denied access, the city got a search warrant. The city spent 3 1/2 hours inspecting the seven vacant buildings, each with four units. McMenamin said the inspection was limited to vacant buildings to limit the disruption to residents. He hopes the city will be able to return to inspect the occupied ones as well.
Read the full story, including a PDF of the letters, at SJ-R.com…
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 