Some residents of Moller Avenue in Maplewood were upset in October 2014 that a house on their street (7228 Moller) was set for demolition (they understood) unless a buyer could be found. It was owned by Bank of America according to records.
A judge heard the case for a second time, in mid-January, and declared the house a “nuisance”, which is a good thing for residents in the neighborhood who wanted the house to remain so someone can buy the house from Bank of America and fix it up to live in.
Being declared a nuisance means the city can abate the nuisance and be reimbursed, Maplewood Director of Public Works Anthony Traxler said.
That could be painting, cutting grass, fixing gutters and similar work. The work will be a lien against the house, which a buyer will pay to reimburse the city.
Traxler said the city will continue to work with the bank to maintain the house until it can be sold.
Bank of America has owned the house since it foreclosed on its former owner in 2012. Red tape has stymied potential buyers since then.