Cleveland Heights to Abate Six Properties

Garry Kanter July 17, 2012 at 11:06 am

Is the location a "former" Kwik Check station?
Maybe you can clarify this sentence for me: "The owners were to maintain the station's exterior and not expand its sales area. Instead, people can be seen selling unauthorized videos and CDs as far as one of the gas station's service bays." What sort of sales activity are the owner's engaged in? Or is it squatters?

Benjamin Morrison July 17, 2012 at 04:26 pm

Why can't they simply post a police officer to enforce the agreements? Property abatement is a terrible idea till all options are exhausted. We spend too much on law enforcement as it is, why not USE those resources?

Brandon Baker (Editor) July 17, 2012 at 05:26 pm

The station is still still there. It did not follow guidelines agreed to in the 2011 lawsuit, such as not selling additional items outside of the store as it had already been doing. It's not clear if it's the owners themselves, but the movies and music sold outside the station are illegal, adding to the city's frustrations.

Garry Kanter July 17, 2012 at 07:31 pm

Thanks, Brandon. I must admit my ignorance. Is a legit business running there? Selling gas, repairs, and convenience store?
Kinda rare to abate something like that no?,

Christine Johnson July 17, 2012 at 10:11 pm

Benjamin, are you a resident of Cleveland Heights? Are you an engaged citizen? I invite you to my Noble/Monticello neighborhood on foot so you can see first hand what the area looks like. There are many successful businesses in the area. The gas station is in our business district. Its' abatement is long overdue. I get the impression that you do not even know what the gas station looks like. I find it hard to believe that you have plausable facts or documents to back your claim that the city spends too much on law enforcement. When was the last time you attended a Meet Your Police session? You are saying that posting a police officer at a meaningless post is more important than helping the woman who got raped, the child who was beaten, the teen who was stabbed, and the elderly person who was found unresponsive. When was the last time you attended a City Council meeting to hear and see first hand the series of steps that were taken to resolve property issues before abatement was required? Educate yourself before you offer opinions that are made without merit. Shame on you.

Nunov Yorbisnis July 18, 2012 at 03:22 am

Thats too bad the owners couldn't clean up their act. That station is almost always the cheapest place to buy gas in the heights. Usually by 15-20 cents. It does seem to attract a somewhat less than desirable crowd. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that a bunch of folks without cars hanging out at a gas station means something fishy is going on. Personally, if I were gonna gonna do something illegal, I would walk down down the street and do it on the EC side of Noble where they don't have cops anymore. A teacher at Shaw High told me that the last round of cuts leaves them with only 3 regular patrol officers on duty. Cleveland Heights has their own army.

Garry Kanter July 18, 2012 at 03:30 am

Wow! A legally running enterprise is declared a nuisance, and "That building will be coming down as soon as we can get our hands on it." says the mayor.
You don't see *that* every day. And I'm not saying it's wrong. Just quite rare.

alan joseph samson July 19, 2012 at 11:01 am

Hello Christine Johnson.
I will add my comments immediately after your questions within your post. Benjamin, are you a resident of Cleveland Heights? My name is alan joseph samson; yes, I am a resident of Cleveland Hts. Are you an engaged citizen? Maybe. I invite you to my Noble/Monticello neighborhood on foot so you can see first hand what the area looks like. Maybe. There are many successful businesses in the area. Okay. The gas station is in our business district. Okay. Its' abatement is long overdue. Is it? I get the impression that you do not even know what the gas station looks like. Maybe. I find it hard to believe that you have plausable facts or documents to back your claim that the city spends too much on law enforcement. Maybe. When was the last time you attended a Meet Your Police session? Never, when are such sessions? You are saying that posting a police officer at a meaningless post is more important than helping the woman who got raped, the child who was beaten, the teen who was stabbed, and the elderly person who was found unresponsive. What are you saying? When was the last time you attended a City Council meeting to hear and see first hand the series of steps that were taken to resolve property issues before abatement was required? I have read Minutes covering many years. Educate yourself before you offer opinions that are made without merit. Okay. Shame on you. Maybe. "Emergency Resolution"?

Garry Kanter July 19, 2012 at 07:36 pm

I think the mayor was premature in his ""To those people who live in that neighborhood or travel in it, help is on its way," Mayor Ed Kelley said. "That building will be coming down as soon as we can get our hands on it.""
---------- "Failure to resolve these matters could result in the business being shut down, Stein said. "“If they clean up their act, and are a reputable business, then it’s fine,” he said." http://www.cleveland.com/cleveland-heights/index.ssf/2012/07/cleveland_heights_city_council_23.html

Garry Kanter July 22, 2012 at 05:21 pm

The word "animals" is offensive as you use it.
What has CH done to be "section 8 friendly"?

Brandon Baker (Editor) July 22, 2012 at 06:22 pm

A comment was removed from this article because it did not adhere to our Terms of Use.

LolaMontez2 July 23, 2012 at 05:17 pm

I DO live in the area and I AM involved ("meet the police" etc.) and I think we are on a very troubled path if the only option is "bull doze it". We already have many bulldozed lots at Noble Monticello! who is going to build on these? who will maintain them? they are already ugly, weed-choked plots. That Kwik check gas station probably pays taxes; fix it up? Yes. Enforce building codes? Yes. But bulldozing it won't make the neighborhood better. It is one of the few successful local business; the Noble/Monticello block is like 60% UNOCCUPIED.
This "bulldoze it" method was used in Cleveland for years, and look how it worked for them!

Lisa Rainsong September 14, 2012 at 08:10 pm

Could you please update us on the status of this gas station? It is still open for business. Thanks!

Cherie Dubose November 8, 2012 at 11:15 pm

I am currently a resident of South Euclid. I did however grow up in Cleveland Heights and I certainly notice how vastly different the city has become. To be quite frank, it disgusts me beyond belief!!!! I have a serious issue with an individual who is too lazy to do the simple things i.e. throw your garbage in a garbage can. Speak as if you have a bit of respect, intelligence, pride or dignity in front of children or elders. How about for people in general!!! This type of activity that takes place in or on any "business" property Is completely inappropriate and should not be tolerated in any way shape or form. I don't think that people care enough. Unfortunately, the city of South Euclid is a victim of the same growing "fungus". I have become like those of yester year except its black flight!! I just don't want to be around it and do not feel as if I should have to subject my children to it. Many residents of both city's feel the same and have been put in a compromising situation. Many feel like moving is the only option. Unfortunately the gas station being bull dozed does not bull doze the mentality.

India March 8, 2013 at 05:49 pm

This business has been shut down for about a week now and I actually have mixed feelings about seeing it go. Buying gas here was almost always a better deal than any of the surrounding stations, and I'll take a revenue generating business over a vacant lot any day of the week. However, if I were one of the people complaining about how much of a nuisance this business is, I wouldn't want my cries to fall on deaf ears. I just hope my neighbors will be happier dealing with the even bigger eyesore (in my opinion) that is another boarded up business/empty lot.