Safety Board orders Meadow Lane house vacated

May 14—ANDERSON — The Anderson Board of Public Safety has ordered a house in the 1300 block of Meadow Lane vacated immediately.

Todd Fisher, director of the Anderson Municipal Development Department, said Tuesday the owners are sub-leasing the property, running a business from the property and housing people in a garage in violation of city zoning codes.

"We want to inspect it and if it's in bad shape, I want to demolish it," Fisher said.

Fisher said there are people living in the garage and the property is loaded with debris and trash.

"I want to determine if the house is safe," he said. "This has been going on for a year."

A relative of the owner said they want the tenant to move out, remove his property and repair the house.

The Safety Board voted to give the owner of a property at 2007 Nichol Avenue 30 days to clean up the property which has shrubs encroaching on the sidewalk. The residence is not visible because of the overgrowth of trees and brush.

Fisher said the owner has been in environmental court eight times and the judge has ordered the property cleaned up.

"We will cut the trees, brush and clean the property," Fisher said. "The owner will be billed for the work."

Despite objections by the property owner, assistant city attorney Spenser Benge said the court has found the property in violation.

"The owner has to comply within 30 days or we will be forced to clean it up," Fisher said.

In other business, the Safety Board gave the owner of a property at 303 Jackson Street a year to make repairs to the exterior of the building.

Fisher asked that the demolition order be placed on hold.

"If he pulls the permits and finishes the exterior work this year, he can then start work on the interior," he said.

Fisher said he will check progress on the repairs every three months.

The board approved the demolition of a building at 2411 W. 27th Street and 2421 Central Avenue.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.