On Christmas Eve, the city’s department of Building and Housing (B&H) taped a cease and desist order on the door of Denison United Church of Christ (UCC), advising the church that it would be forced to change its official use — currently as a house of worship and assembly — if it planned on continuing to provide shelter to those most in need.
The city’s statement provided a timeline of its actions. It said that while B&H was in contact with the church about necessary requirements to become a temporary transient use facility this fall, the local community development corporation, Westown, alerted them that the church was already providing shelter, i.e., prior to an official review. B&H sent an inspector to the church on Dec. 6.
“On Dec. 20, a violation order was issued by B&H,” the statement explained. “The church has 30 days to appeal the order. The City was told by the church it would file the appeal but as of [12/26] has not received it. The church is still welcome to submit a temporary R-1 transient use application, which would give it 180 days to operate its shelter. If the application were rejected because upgrades to, for example, a sprinkler system were not made, the findings could be appealed and the review board could consider a variance.”
The city said that the Division of Fire was also concerned that the church was not meeting fire codes for residential facilities. The statement said that fire personnel met with the church before the cease and desist order was issued. (That order, the one posted to the church door on Christmas Eve, must be appealed within seven days.)
If the church plans to appeal, the city’s statement said it will have to employ a fire watch system, in which someone is tasked with keeping an eye out for fires and alerting occupants of the danger, in the interim period. Such a system is already in place.
Denison UCC’s Rev. Nozomi Ikuta, when reached by Scene, said she had read the city’s statement but would defer further comment until she’d met with legal counsel.
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This article appears in Dec 25-31, 2019.
This lousy city has the worst leadership and team ever. Jackson with his patronage hiring hall approach has filled all positions with morons, incapable of reading and writing, much less showing skill or ability. (Thanks CMSD!)
How low can we go? Can the city be any more mismanaged? Stay tuned and let’s see how 2020 bring us even more surprised of corruption and ineptitude.
And Up Next… Another ma$$ive property tax increase on us property owners!!! That should more than make up for all of this!!!
It’s always about money, churches don’t pay taxes, if they’re providing housing, now they can be taxed. Where are the homeless people suppose to go when the shelters are overbooked????? Do better Mayor Jackson
Theres a beautiful ST PROCOPS BUILDING SITTING THERE ON 41ST JUST ROTTING AWAY. PUT IN MOTION USE OF THIS BUILDING.
Collinwood School Fire, 1908 – 172 dead… don’t mess with fire safety… that place looks like a fire trap. Lame and deceptively wrong story title also, btw.
Thanks, Westown CDC!!
Merry Christmas!
If people observed Matthew 7:1, the homeless would have more.
That being said, there are some who want better, & there are some homeless men and women who don’t.
If I had an opportunity to prosper with my music sole proprietorship, I would give them employment.
But just like the homeless, I’m denied support from the city of Cleveland with the intent to return home to help the city out.
I’d have more opportunities in Atlanta.
This is a tough issue. I cant stand our current political regime, & I don’t want to see any of the unfortunate homeless left out in brutal cold conditions. There are points that B/H do have to enforce, mostly with slum lords, illegal this & that where out of town owners don’t care. In my opinion this is not that! If this house of worship that is willing to help the ones the city is not willing to help!!!!!!!! Then may God bless them! Yes of course be careful with the fire issue & other health issues. This is not one of Taxin Jacksons political cronies so they do not have those exemptions. But this is not a slum lord trying to make money! This is an act of mankind generosity, looking out for someone, anyone, who needs it! The city can work with this church! The councilperson can also get involved! I call out our city officials to help!!!!! You had no problem helping the wealthy with our money, tens of millions for arena improvements! IMPROVEMENTS!!!!! Help where help is needed & don’t turn a blind eye to this issue, all you councilpersons have this issue in your wards. don’t come back with there are enough shelters cause your wrong! Get involved! I will send this message out to all of the politicians & if you ignore this message of compassion then live with the memory of how you could have helped the human life who froze to death because you don’t want to help!!!!!! This is my personal feelings, but I am retired so I will have time to spread this message.
One other point directed at Narvan, the Collinwood fire was a terrible tragedy that brought about better safety codes. This not a good comparison , as mentioned in article the church would have to have a fire watch system. The church is trying to keep these people alive, other option is fend for yourself all winter in cold that will kill you. I understand your point, but its to the extreme bad circumstance that the city needs to work with church to make this work.
Scene , why not get your fire permit approved and house these poor folks, or help the Church get theirs?
Scene, if I could take over the Depts the city & county run, to help the people that need it, I would would do better, with less, & yes I can get into facts. I I couldn’t do worse than the “overpaid, fleet of managers & leaders they have now that are, not doing it now! Look up what these multitude of managers make per year & what they actually contribute as a necessity to the people, US!!!!!! buckeyeinstitute.org check it out!!!!!