Maplewood house faces demolition: neighbors want a buyer instead

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7228 Moller faces possible demolition.

Moller Avenue residents are trying to save a foreclosed house at 7228 Moller that has sat vacant for two years, and now faces possible demolition by the City of Maplewood.

Lori and Doug McElvain live next door. Lori emailed 40 South News about the possible demolition.

“We have a street that is pretty passionate about the character of our neighborhood and would love to see this home rehabbed instead of torn down,”  Lori McElvain said in the email.

The problem is that no one seems to know who now owns the house.

McElvain said after Bank of America foreclosed on the house multiple buyers came forward, but a deal fell through.

She said Maplewood director of public works, Anthony Traxler says Bank of America claims to no longer own the house, and no one showed up for the initial nuisance hearing. (Bank of America is listed as the owner in St. Louis County records.)

Maplewood has been maintained the exterior, though it has deteriorated. The interior is said to be in good condition.

The demolition order from the first hearing expires Nov. 3 and a second hearing is required before the city can move forward. That date hasn’t been set.

McElvain would much rather see someone buy the house and move in.

“It seems there is plenty of interest in the property, once it can be determined how to get the property on the market,” she said.

7228 Moller faces possible demolition.
7228 Moller faces possible demolition.

27 COMMENTS

  1. Lori — I have no stake…..and actually live over in Brentwood. But I hate to see our neighborhoods deteriorate because of issues such as what has happened to this house. We have similar examples of it in Brentwood. I have many friends over in Maplewood and love the charm of that community. So, as many on this site have said, would love to see this house preserved. I admire your efforts to try and save it. From the outside it looks like a great house. I wonder if you contacted the County Assessor’s Office and asked them to help identify the owner:(314) 615-2555. Sometimes it takes several months for the paperwork to catch up to their website. Kaern

  2. Lori — when you say “all records”,what are you referring too???? The St. Louis County Assessor’s Office is the Official Record. Unless the property changed hands in the last year since BOA paid their taxes, BOA still owns it.

    • Fascinating
      Must have changed hands then
      The City contacted BOA and they are claiming not to own it
      There’s a sign for a property management service (although nobody but the City of Maplewood is currently tending to the yard) posted on the front door that services some banks…but BOA isn’t one of them.
      Mysterious…

    • Sounds like you’re a real estate agent. I’d love for you to be correct. I live next door and am trying to get the bottom of the almost two year vacancy / tired of watching the squirrels take over. What’s your stake?

  3. Could the Historic and Preservation Commission created under the Maplewood Code of Ordinances help preserve this property?

    • That sounds like a great idea! Perhaps they could deed it back to Laura Guyton and she can continue to improve it!

      • I apologize- that was not Laura Guyton who posted the comment of deeding the property back to her. I am her sister and accidentally used her sign in. I wish that she could take back her house- and continue to improve it as she loves Maplewood and that street!

  4. I love this house! When we were looking for a house in Maplewood two years ago we looked at a big pink house on this same street and I remember noticing this charming hours. I know we can save it!

  5. According to the St. Louis COUnty Assessor’s OFfice, Bank Of America still owns the property and paid the taxes on the propoerty in 2013.

    • All the records show that but BOA told they City they no longer own it and are no longer tending to the property…the City of Maplewood has been mowing / clearing brush for a while now

  6. I would be happy to pay the 2013 taxes and move back in! I think I will google squatter’s rights. I am living just a few streets away.

    • Go Laura, go!
      Get in touch with Mr. Brooks with the real estate company…
      He can fill you in on the details. Sounds like this was part of that BOA “robosigning” scam…it was an illegal foreclosure…could help your case

      • I did! I will look into it. I lived there for 8 years and fell in love with it at first sight. I had so many plans for it. My heart was broken when I moved out! Thanks Jan.

  7. This saddens me to no end. I was the owner that BOA foreclosed on a year and a half ago after giving me the run around for almost 2 years with loan modification paperwork. I was almost finished with the inside and was getting started to do the exterior work in 2012. It is such a charming house. I stopped by last spring to take a look around and saw a squirrel on the inside, and massive overgrowth on a yard that I took such care with. The neighborhood and neighbors were wonderful. It’s not a tear down. It can easily be restored. Take it from BOA and return it to Maplewood ownership.

    • Laura: I am so sorry you had to go through that! We saw the very same “run around” during that time. It was very frustrating not being able to help people. Grrrrrr. I showed your home to clients of mine and their son. It was truly charming and well cared for with a great amount of upward potential. All of the neighbors I spoke with were very friendly.
      My husband had an accepted contract on the home, but the listing side canceled it close to the closing date. He was told it was due to “legal issues”. Have you given any thought to having an attorney review your foreclosure?

  8. We were interested in buying this house about two years about when it was on the market and rehabbing it. Unfortunately, it was listed too high for our budget. It really is a great space on the inside though. It needs some work, but would be a great place for a young family.

  9. Doug: Contact my husband, Jim Brooks with Barb Summers Group. He had that property under contract for a buyer, but the listing side ended up canceling it due to legal issues with the foreclosure. (The reason he was given.)

    • I love this! I knew SOMEBODY out there had to know something. We have a fantastic street / community of neighbors. Eager to see that house get some love + attention

      • Hi Lori!

        One of the times I was showing the home, I spoke with a lady who was in her front yard across the street, doing yoga with her children. Could that have been you?
        I love MRH! I guess that is why my husband and I are in our third MRH home in 10 years. heehee Moller, Vine and Maple are some of my favorite streets in Maplewood.
        We’re going to do some digging around and see what we can find out. I’ll post any findings!
        I know whoever ends up in the Moller home will be happy as a lark. 🙂

        • We are in the White House next door…our house was in dreadful shape when we bought it…we learned that ANYTHING can be saved. Laura was such a great neighbor. We love MRH, too and would love to see that house occupied. Thank you for all of the information and help!

          • That would be the house on the east side? I think I spoke to your husband. Is yours the one built by the dentist?
            I agree! Anything can be fixed. . .just how much will it cost? heehee I hope the squirrel that Laura mentioned didn’t do a lot of damage. They can get very anxious when they can not get out and wreak havoc while trying to escape.

  10. According to the County Real Estate Information site, Bank of America is the owner and has not paid the 2013 taxes. The photos of the house are on Zillow still, definitely looks like a nice home needing some work. Although anytime a house sits empty for a while the work needed can go up. If the City can claim the property why cant they just sell it?

  11. Wouldn’t the county have up-to-date records on it? I hope it will be rehabbed. I agree with Ian. I’m always sad when I see the empty lots where the maniac murdered Ryan Hummert and burned down 2 houses. We have the part named for Ryan. Now I’d like to see something done with those lots, like either redevelop or put a garden on it the site–something rather than an empty lot.

  12. Hey! Not sure where “imminent demolition” came from…it was offered as a potential option if the City takes over, but the folks at the City of Maplewood have been super-responsive and forthcoming with the information they have. My query was about why the Bank of America can’t provide information about who they sold the property to…and to make sure that the people making decisions about the property were aware that the interior is in much better shape than the exterior.
    Well, hopefully this helps shed some light on the mystery. So sad to watch it deteriorate.

  13. Shouldn’t the City figure out who owns the property first?

    On top of that, I think the City should remember that empty lots do not improve a city. Take a google earth look at north St. Louis. There are whole blocks that are just grass, with maybe one house on it. It’s empty, and it certainly won’t be able to turn around any easier because of that. If we can keep out houses filled, we can keep the community going. Do everything possible to save this house.

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