TOLEDO, Ohio – The city of Toledo is taking action to clean up 16 properties that were burned down and left abandoned. City officials are stepping in after property owners failed to address the issues, leaving behind dangerous and unsightly debris in several neighborhoods.
For years, residents have been calling for action, and now, after extensive reporting by 13 Action News, there is finally visible progress. The cleanup is underway, with work already completed on three of the properties, including one on Knower Street.
From Superior Street to Emerald Avenue, local residents, including Russell Petrey, have long voiced their concerns about the state of their neighborhoods. “My hope is to get Toledo to do something about this,” Petrey stated. Neighbors have been waiting for action on properties that have become eyesores and safety hazards due to fire damage and neglect.
One of the most persistent issues has been the presence of rodents and other pests, as described by LeQuan Lofton, a local resident who said, “It’s nasty. It’s rodents and mice and stuff everywhere.” Lofton expressed frustration that properties in lower-income neighborhoods have taken longer to clean up, questioning if the response would have been quicker in wealthier areas.
The problem has also affected residents along Holland-Sylvania, where Ron Cousino has called Engage Toledo multiple times, only to be told the city is “working on it.” Despite these promises, piles of debris often remained untouched for months, inviting illegal dumping and further contributing to neighborhood blight. “People just come by and throw trash in it,” said Petrey, voicing the frustration many residents feel.
City officials explained that their process involves giving homeowners the opportunity to clean up their properties before the city steps in. However, this process can often take months, leading to ongoing frustration for residents. Additionally, cleanup efforts are complicated by EPA regulations, as the debris in some cases contains hazardous materials like asbestos.
The cost of cleaning up these properties will be added to the respective property owners’ taxes, although many of the homeowners have yet to take responsibility. The city hopes that this intervention will not only clean up the affected areas but also deter further neglect and illegal dumping.
As the cleanup continues, Toledo residents are hopeful that these efforts will bring much-needed change to their neighborhoods. However, many are also calling for more proactive measures to prevent such situations from arising in the future. For now, the city’s intervention is seen as a step toward revitalizing these long-neglected communities.