Demolition delayed
House will be torn down soon
Published on Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Rosie HubertŐs house on First Avenue Southeast is scheduled to be demolished. American News Photo by Anita Meyer
A house that the city of Aberdeen has deemed unlivable and plans to demolish is still standing - at least as of Monday night.
The city had planned to have the house torn down Monday, but the contractor hired to do the work wasn't available at short notice. There's no word on when the house at 517 First Ave. S.E. will be torn down, but officials said it will likely be soon.
The city told owner Rosie Hubert in May that her home was unsafe and that she needed to make repairs or move out for good. The home hadn't had water or sewer for several years. The city gave Hubert until Friday to repair her home.
Hubert had been in negotiations with a nonprofit group to sell the property, but earlier this month, negotiations fell through and the property was put on the market.
On Monday afternoon, it remained listed for sale for $20,000.
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READER COMMENTS
OK, OK! I withdraw my challange! If this woman has refused help, and has a roof over her head, and other property, then my sympathy was misplaced. I understood that she was living in her car and was destitute.
The picture of the house doesn't look that bad, except needing to be cleaned up. If it is only the bathroom, $20,000 is cheap enough for a "fixer-upper", but since the city has declared it unsafe, we aren't told if there are other more serious problems. An old derelict in the neighborhood brings down the property values for adjacent home-owners.
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Posted by Elaine on Wed, Nov 4, 2009, 10:49 am
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People should'nt live in aberdeen anyway! It is a hell hole! The commisioners keep any major chain business out so there commisioner owned businesses can thrive! there's nothing there! Let them tear the hole town down.
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Posted by jesse on Wed, Nov 4, 2009, 5:38 am
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What people do not understand is that if the city went in to help this lady with her house - the planning and zoning department would recieve 500 calls because no one is helping them with their house. People need to understand that the city has certain requirements they have to follow by law and the code enforcement officers, planning and zoning director and city attorney are obligated to follow these rules. If there is something you do not like contact your council member and register a complaint - the council members work for you. This lady has refused help from her church, her friends and members of the community - she wants the pity - she owns land outside of Aberdeen and can afford to fix her problem. She has not been living out of her car - she has an apartment. Stop bieng so ignorant!
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Posted by Mike on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, 10:25 pm
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I can't believe that there isn't 4 to lets say as many as 12 people,(cause that's about all you would need) in the "whole town" of Aberdeen that someone hasn't "stepped up to the plate" and fix the problem..come on folks, the woman is living in her car! I too live out of state, but grew up in Abdn. Where I live now, we pick houses such as this and get donations of materials, and manpower etc., all skill levels excepted, which means no excuses folks, it just takes one "special" person to care enough, and start the ball rolling. Check with your local Home Builders Assoc.
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Posted by karolynn on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, 9:27 pm
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It seems that the quick and easy solution is to "tear it down". Aberdeen is losing lots of nice older properties due to this mindset. What about that Gazebo? That could have been repaired but the easy way is to tear it down. Our grandparents would have repaired it.
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Posted by Steve on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, 8:06 pm
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How do you help someone who doesn't want the help? If you have kept up at all on this situation ... the city has offered countless times to help this lady and she has refused all and any kind of assistance.
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Posted by Christy on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, 3:49 pm
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The home appears to be in much better shape than some of the ones that entire families are STILL living in, in New Orleans.
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Posted by Jay on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, 2:50 pm
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This would be a good time for Aberdeen citizens to band together and help someone who is in need.
I challange you. (And don't ask why I'm not stepping up. I am hundreds of miles away and don't know anybody in Abdn.)(I am also aged and crippled.)_
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Posted by Elaine on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, 2:40 pm
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No matter your views on the city rules and reg. you have to feel for this poor woman. She has been sleeping in her car for several months because the city wouldn't let her sleep in her home (for her own safety, of course). She doesn't have the money to repair her home, and has nowhere to go. My heart goes out to her, and I hope she finds someplace warm and nice to lay her head at night.
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Posted by Sarah on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, 1:47 pm
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Aberdeen Home Builders does do some charitable work.
Good project for them.
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Posted by Jay on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, 10:57 am
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Where is Habitat for Humanity?
Another local group? TIF?
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Posted by Jay on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, 10:54 am
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Why couldn't we use some of the millions for main street to get this woman's toilet and shower going. A little plumbing has to be cheaper than tearing the place down.
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Posted by Brian on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, 8:52 am
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I understand the saftey issue, but I believe Thomas Jefferson is rolling in his grave because of the forcing of citizens to conform thier property, to a government, or have it demolished.
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Posted by Brian on Tue, Nov 3, 2009, 8:46 am
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