by Dennis Sharkey
Landmark reporter
Neighbors of Weston Mayor Greg Hoffman say his property is an eyesore and that it's affecting their property values.
The rental property in question is located at 600 Thomas. Resident Jim Dejarnett lives across the street and said he asked the board of aldermen to do something about the property last May when he addressed the board.
“I'm at a loss,” Dejarnett told the board. “That place destroys my property value. Please drive by. You'll see what I'm talking about.”
Dejarnett said the property has sat for months with no progress. He questioned why Hoffman waited until September to apply for a building permit. Furthermore he asked if anyone knew what the city ordinance states concerning building permits. He asked if there was a certain time frame construction should begin and what the definition of progress is.
Alderman C.R. Carter told Dejarnett that he didn't know what the board could do except look into the issue. He requested city staff report back next month.
Police Chief Terry Blanton said he inspected the property last summer and found no safety violations.
Alderman Amiah McCaulley, however, pointed to the elephant in the room.
“Unfortunately, it is the mayor's house,” McCaulley said. “That's why nobody wants to say anything because it's the mayor's house. If it were anybody else's house what would we be doing right now?”
Hoffman cut everyone off and said he is not receiving any special treatment because he is the mayor.
“The fact remains it has been reviewed. As long as they had current permits and they weren't breaking any ordinances, I would hope we would encourage them to finish,” Hoffman said in speaking as if it were someone else’s property.
Hoffman said his intentions were to have the house completed by this month. However, the company contracted to manufacture construction pieces for his home have delayed the project even further. He said he received notification last week that the contractor was ready to proceed.
The answer did not satisfy Dejarnett. He said Hoffman still has not presented a schedule of when it will be completed and demanded an answer. Hoffman said he would not comply with his request.
“I've done that before and you're using it as fodder to hold me to it,” Hoffman said to Dejarnett. “If you're asking for a schedule, I'm not giving you one.”
Alderman Bob Moore asked Hoffman if the board could get a soft schedule.
“I think if we had an individual sitting here we would be asking them the same questions,” Moore said. “We're not going to necessarily hold your feet to it but it gives us some kind of idea.”
Hoffman further stated that the house is not his full-time job and something he only works on during the weekends. He said he would hope that people would understand that he is trying to improve the area.
“I think there is the point of view that this house is going to be fixed up,” he said. “I would hope that people would acknowledge that somebody coming into a derelict house that has been vacant for a year and plans to fix it up should be welcomed in the neighborhood. Had the house been left as is, it certainly would have detracted from the property value.”
At that point Hoffman tried ending the conversation to move on to a lengthy agenda. He invited Dejarnett or anyone else with questions to approach him after the meeting.
“I don't need to talk to this kid about this anymore. I'm hoping the city council will do something about this,” Dejarnett said before leaving.
McCaulley however wanted to continue the discussion. He brought up another property Hoffman owns and is trying to fix up. He was cut off, though, when Moore made the motion to move on. Only McCaulley voted against moving on with the agenda.
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