Amherst: Jackson Street residents demand city action on 'hoarder house'

AMHERST — Neighbors are angry that cleanup efforts have stalled at what they've called a "hoarder house" at 167 Jackson St. The vacant home has been not just an eyesore, but the source of awful smells and a haven for wild animals, according to complaints made to Amherst City Council in recent months. Susan Conkle, who lives next door, asked elected officials Monday night to crack down on property owner Sherwood Smith. Extensive repairs have been made to the roof and front of the house, she said, but there are still problems that cannot be seen from the street. The back door, for example, remains unsecured, Conkle said: "It's still just propped up with a table and propane tanks, and the broken door behind it." Jim Todhunter, who lives two doors down, gave City Council a similar report about the garage door. He said work was done, but the door doesn't go up and down, and is propped open by wood boards. That allows animals to wander in and out of the house, he said. Kelly Post, whose father lives on Jackson Street, said downspouts and gutters were removed to make the house look better, but they remain lying in the backyard. There are also 10 to 15 years of grass clippings there, she said. "It is still an eyesore," Post told Council. The backyard is "pretty jungly looking" with shrubbery, weeds and grass growing high, said Conkle. Trees were recently cut down, leaving large piles "like a beaver dam," she said. Neighbors said a dumpster placed on the property has sat there unused. It is the latest in a string of dumpsters that haven't been filled, they said. Jackson Street neighbors said the house is a nuisance and asked city officials to take action. Last year, building officials placed a notice on the door declaring the owner was violating the property code. It has now been removed. In a follow-up interview, Mayor Mark Costilow said the Law Department has been in touch with Smith and is following his progress. He met Tuesday morning with Building Official David Macartney and Law Director Tony Pecora to discuss options for addressing the situation. There is a legal process that must be followed, Costilow said. "Property owners have rights too on the other side of that fence," he said. The city does not have a right to go inside the house without a court order, Costilow said. It probably does have the option of mowing the lawn and billing Smith for the work, but that too requires notice by certified mail and a waiting period. Condemning and tearing down the alleged nuisance house is not an option at this point, he said — that type of action would have to be authorized by the court. Conkle said she hopes the city will take some action to enforce its property maintenance code. "Because we feel no longer that Mr. Smith will do anything about the property," she said. "And just to leave it like this, when it was so close to actually sort of being OK, would be a shame." Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.