MONROE - The owner of four vacant buildings on Mansion Drive feels his properties are being singled out as a hazard because the daughter of an alderwoman was among five teenagers arrested for trespassing and criminal damage in one of the buildings.
Using the expressions "someone has an ax to grind," "strong-arm tactics" and "personal vendetta," owner Neil Homb of South Wayne on Wednesday also said: "This being brought to the (Monroe) safety committee is more than a coincidence. It's suspicious to me - here you have the child of a city official involved in a break-in and everything for me goes south."
Alderwoman Brooke Bauman's 17-year-old daughter was arrested Jan. 31 but the charges have since been dropped. Brooke Bauman is one of four aldermen who sit on the safety committee.
On Monday, Monroe building inspector Ryan Lindsey and Police Chief Fred Kelley told the committee of their concern about the buildings, calling them unsecure even though they are locked, and noting a wall had been kicked in to gain entrance.
Lindsey said he had not received any plans from the owner regarding remodeling or demolition, and the committee encouraged him to make the buildings a point of emphasis in seeing some progress.
"The first I heard of this (concern) was at Monday's meeting," Brooke Bauman said Wednesday. "It was not me who made any kind of request. No vote was taken, no action was taken. We just told him (Lindsey) to do his job and that the matter was within his jurisdiction."
Homb is scheduled to meet with Lindsey today, he said, and disagrees that he has not pulled permits or submitted plans, which he said are state-approved.
"I've even been talking to Ryan," Homb said. "He may not know they exist, but (former building inspector) Dave Powers does."
Homb is further concerned about his reputation.
"I want people to know I'm not a slum lord," he said. "I've maintained the property for the seven years I've owned it. The only complaint I've received was two years ago when one of the neighbors thought some weeds got a bit long alongside one of the buildings."
Homb, a 30-year state-licensed engineer who owns Apogee Engineering, said he has a proven track record in Monroe, including mechanical design work for the new humane society animal shelter, the Monroe Theatre Guild and Ruda Chevrolet Toyota.
Furthermore, for five years he has allowed the city's emergency personnel to use the building closest to the street, which has always been schedule for demolition, for training purposes.
"I have done this free of charge," he said. "The police department and fire department even have a set of keys. The SWAT team has been there, the canine trainers have been there."
He bought the buildings in 2007 from Terry Martin with the intention of converting three of them into four-unit adult (50 or older) residences. The buildings, known as the Alphorn Annex, will be called Asgard Townhouse Apartments, Homb said. They will feature a Swiss-inspired exterior complete with a balcony over the entrance.
Homb said he pulled permits in 2007 to replace the roof on two of the buildings and replace the windows on one. In 2008 or 2009, he began interior remodeling, with a permit, on one of the buildings before the economic downturn emerged and the project stalled, he said.
"I own the buildings outright, so I didn't want to get in over my head," Homb said. "I needed to go slow."
The building that was broken into was not the one he had remodeled, nor was it the one set for demolition.
"Thank goodness they didn't break into the good one," he said.
The other two buildings were scheduled for remodel this year, he said, but he has yet to pull permits.
"I'm waiting for the snow to melt," he said. "Plus, the gas company said if I waited until (this past) Jan. 1, I could shut off my gas lines for free. Otherwise, it would have cost me between $1,000 and $2,000. Why, I'm not sure, but that's what I was told."
Lindsey on Wednesday said Powers did acknowledge that Homb submitted state-approved plans but they have expired. A check of records by Lindsey did verify that Homb pulled permits for the roof and window work in 2007 but nothing since.
"Even if he had, they expire after two years and clearly the remodeling isn't complete," Lindsey said.
Homb also questions the city's concern over the teens' ability to break in.
"Anyone can break into any vacant building with the right tool," he said. "Why are mine any different?"
Finally, he feels the concerns voiced about his buildings don't bode well for others interested in pursuing projects in Monroe.
"I'm a taxpayer and I'm an investor," Homb said. "What kind of message does this send? I've been completely blindsided by this."
Using the expressions "someone has an ax to grind," "strong-arm tactics" and "personal vendetta," owner Neil Homb of South Wayne on Wednesday also said: "This being brought to the (Monroe) safety committee is more than a coincidence. It's suspicious to me - here you have the child of a city official involved in a break-in and everything for me goes south."
Alderwoman Brooke Bauman's 17-year-old daughter was arrested Jan. 31 but the charges have since been dropped. Brooke Bauman is one of four aldermen who sit on the safety committee.
On Monday, Monroe building inspector Ryan Lindsey and Police Chief Fred Kelley told the committee of their concern about the buildings, calling them unsecure even though they are locked, and noting a wall had been kicked in to gain entrance.
Lindsey said he had not received any plans from the owner regarding remodeling or demolition, and the committee encouraged him to make the buildings a point of emphasis in seeing some progress.
"The first I heard of this (concern) was at Monday's meeting," Brooke Bauman said Wednesday. "It was not me who made any kind of request. No vote was taken, no action was taken. We just told him (Lindsey) to do his job and that the matter was within his jurisdiction."
Homb is scheduled to meet with Lindsey today, he said, and disagrees that he has not pulled permits or submitted plans, which he said are state-approved.
"I've even been talking to Ryan," Homb said. "He may not know they exist, but (former building inspector) Dave Powers does."
Homb is further concerned about his reputation.
"I want people to know I'm not a slum lord," he said. "I've maintained the property for the seven years I've owned it. The only complaint I've received was two years ago when one of the neighbors thought some weeds got a bit long alongside one of the buildings."
Homb, a 30-year state-licensed engineer who owns Apogee Engineering, said he has a proven track record in Monroe, including mechanical design work for the new humane society animal shelter, the Monroe Theatre Guild and Ruda Chevrolet Toyota.
Furthermore, for five years he has allowed the city's emergency personnel to use the building closest to the street, which has always been schedule for demolition, for training purposes.
"I have done this free of charge," he said. "The police department and fire department even have a set of keys. The SWAT team has been there, the canine trainers have been there."
He bought the buildings in 2007 from Terry Martin with the intention of converting three of them into four-unit adult (50 or older) residences. The buildings, known as the Alphorn Annex, will be called Asgard Townhouse Apartments, Homb said. They will feature a Swiss-inspired exterior complete with a balcony over the entrance.
Homb said he pulled permits in 2007 to replace the roof on two of the buildings and replace the windows on one. In 2008 or 2009, he began interior remodeling, with a permit, on one of the buildings before the economic downturn emerged and the project stalled, he said.
"I own the buildings outright, so I didn't want to get in over my head," Homb said. "I needed to go slow."
The building that was broken into was not the one he had remodeled, nor was it the one set for demolition.
"Thank goodness they didn't break into the good one," he said.
The other two buildings were scheduled for remodel this year, he said, but he has yet to pull permits.
"I'm waiting for the snow to melt," he said. "Plus, the gas company said if I waited until (this past) Jan. 1, I could shut off my gas lines for free. Otherwise, it would have cost me between $1,000 and $2,000. Why, I'm not sure, but that's what I was told."
Lindsey on Wednesday said Powers did acknowledge that Homb submitted state-approved plans but they have expired. A check of records by Lindsey did verify that Homb pulled permits for the roof and window work in 2007 but nothing since.
"Even if he had, they expire after two years and clearly the remodeling isn't complete," Lindsey said.
Homb also questions the city's concern over the teens' ability to break in.
"Anyone can break into any vacant building with the right tool," he said. "Why are mine any different?"
Finally, he feels the concerns voiced about his buildings don't bode well for others interested in pursuing projects in Monroe.
"I'm a taxpayer and I'm an investor," Homb said. "What kind of message does this send? I've been completely blindsided by this."