City to finally take action on derelict house

Ten years after a Kalihi resident’s first complaint to the city about an abandoned, dilapidated and collapsing wooden house next door, the city finally promises to take action.

Although the house is an eyesore — its once-white walls a weathered gray, the garage collapsed and splintered with a car inside, and the roof and walls severely sagging — that’s not what concerns her.

“We got used to it,” the woman, who asked not to be named, said of the appearance of the house, built in the 1950s. “It’s over 10 years. I’m worried about fire, not only to my house, but to the surrounding houses.”

Last year she turned to state Rep. John Mizuno (D, Kalihi Valley-Kamehameha Heights-Lower Kalihi), who wrote a letter to the city. When nothing happened, he and his staff again contacted the city.

He said the residence poses a danger and health hazard to neighbors and anyone going onto the property, including children, with the threat of collapse, rodents and fire.

The city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services plans to auction off the property in early 2018 due to unpaid property taxes from 2015 to the present, city spokesman Andrew Perreira said Friday in an email.

The Treasury Division is scheduled to send a delinquent demand letter Tuesday to the owners of the house, at 1724-E N. School St. (also listed as 1602-C Haupu Place).

They will have until the end of August to pay the back taxes. If they fail to do so, the parcel will be placed on a tax foreclosure sale May 8.

The woman first called the Department of Planning and Permitting’s Residential Code Branch in 2007 and was told they would be cited for overgrowth.

In 2008 the neighbor called the city again and was referred to the Code Compliance Branch. She was told that the matter would be referred to the city corporation counsel, but no one followed up with her.

The woman said she grew more concerned when her mother became bedridden and she had to hire a caregiver. “If there was a fire, who’s going to help her if no one is around?” she said.

She said the grandson told her the city, not the family, owns the property because they had not paid the property taxes.

On June 20, 2011, the city fined the nine owners $200 for overgrowth and litter (auto and bicycle parts), and dwelling damaged by rot and termites. The owners were given until July 5, 2011, to correct the issues, otherwise a daily fine of $100 a day would be assessed until completed.

The city said the Planning Department filed a lien Jan. 4, 2013, against the owners, who now owe $223,100.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser could not reach the owners.