Mobile home park sparks code overhaul

NIAGARA, N.Y. (WIVB) - First came the eviction notices. Then Monday night, a suspicious fire. And now the Town of Niagara Board is taking more action on conditions at a troubled mobile home park.

The board narrowly approved a resolution to have the town attorney, town engineer, and town building inspector overhaul demolition codes, which haven't been updated since 1981. Councilmembers Robert Clark and Charles Teixeira voted against the idea, because they object to the town engineer getting involved.

Councilmember Clark explained, "The building inspector has the power, right now, to demolish something if it's in danger. And if he's asking for something that's condemned to be demolished, it's probably for a pretty good reason."

Of the roughly 200 mobile homes in Sabre Park, the building inspector condemned 130 last week. Even though many have been vacant for years and stripped by thieves, the town can't legally start tearing them down until the homeowners are given 30 days' notice.

Supervisor Steven Richards said, "If you owned a home there, or any house, and you walked away - you went to California - we cannot track you down to serve you the papers, to tell you 'Either fix that house, or we will tear it down.' That's what has to be changed in our code."

The former ownership company is bankrupt, and Sabre Park is now in the hands of a court-appointed receiver.

"Well [the bankruptcy] impacted [the town] in one sense, because it was hard to track down who was the owner, who was the receiver, things like that. But it doesn't stop the town from enforcing code violations," said Richards.

Normally, the town board has to approve demolition orders, and there are no such orders for any of the Sabre Park units. The remaining tenants are getting lease renewal forms, telling them they either need to sign for another year, or leave.