Gable’s tenant renews criticism

Co-managers plan to file formal complaint with state over condemnation

The Gable's building tenant who last week criticized the city's handling of its recent condemnation of the building after three sprinkler heads broke intends to file a formal complaint with the state about the city's alleged adversarial approach.

Trust was lost and communication soured when a city official wouldn't commit to a needed grace period before shutting off building utilities and wouldn't even directly supply the name of the city's solicitor. Pam Mitchell and another tenant who co-manage the building for its out-of-town owner summoned a lawyer to deal with the case, Mitchell told City Council Monday.

The city has dealt with the tenants' lawyer successfully on the sprinklers and other code issues, and in a little more than two weeks the parties have "come a long way," replied city solicitor Tim Finn.

"We're getting the issues addressed" with the help of the California-based owner, who was in town Monday when the city conducted an inspection of the 12th Avenue section -- the only one of the two that has been occupied recently, Finn said.

"It's a shame the issues were not addressed before," he added.

All that remains before the 12th Avenue section can be reoccupied is one more sprinkler repair, according to Finn and Interim City Manager Joe Merrill.

The utilities were actually never shut off, which is evidence that the city has been cooperative with the Gable's contingent, Finn said, echoing comments Merrill made last week.

Still, "I can understand (the tenants') frustration," Finn said.

The city ought to amend its ordinance requiring out-of-town landlords to appoint local representatives to deal with the city on code cases, so that those representatives have the power to make critical decisions -- or so that those owners must come in person to deal with the problems, said Councilman Dave Ellis, who explained that he wasn't referring to any particular case.

The lack of local decision makers in many code cases has led to the city's understaffed codes department and other city officials "running around in circles," Ellis said.

"I'm sick and tired (of that)," he said.

The city welcomes investment, but owners "need to be accountable," Ellis said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.