I think the city council acted too quickly to condemn the Oak Manor Apartments.
Mr. Rod Lowe financed the owner for almost a million dollars.
Mr. Merchant, the owner, has recently spent $140,000 to repair two roofs.
At the least, Mr. Lowe should be given time to foreclose on the property and make the improvements himself.
Otherwise, Mr. Merchant should be allowed to repair the buildings in a timely manner. If he only rehabs one unit a year, it would be a benefit for the city.
We already have a housing shortage. We also have workers who are unemployed. Work on these units would employ contractors, roofers, plumbers, carpenters, cabinet makers, painters, and laborers.
I also don’t think investors will look favorably at Columbus if they see that we destroyed two people’s investments in our city so easily.
In addition to the loss to the city of $10,000 per year in taxes, we would be tearing-down 13 units that are structurally sound but in need of repairs.
Bob Raymond, Columbus
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