YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — An Ohio man is in disbelief after he bought a home only to find it demolished two weeks later. Now he's asking questions about why and how it happened.
Investor Mitch Veynovich, of Youngstown, bought the property at 3144 Pine Hollow Drive on August 2 and was preparing to start restoration work.
Jeff Schwab, who represents Veynovich's company, and his realtor Maureen Spear said they were all aware it was on the city of Youngstown's demolition list.
"The house was purchased, taxes paid, fees paid, and then it states that an inspection was done on the 7th — five days later — and the house was torn down the following week," Spear said. "It was on the residential disclosure and it was in the MLS [a database used in the real estate industry which shows information about properties]."
Spear said they knew it was on the tear-down list but they had a plan to restore it.
"We were all shocked and surprised because we had just purchased the property," said Jeff Schwab, VP of Construction.
A listing on the code enforcement site states a notice was sent out on August 7. Veynovitch says he didn't receive anything.
The city of Youngstown's code states the property owner has 15 days to file an appeal from the date of notice.
"We haven't received anything by email, text or letter from code enforcement or the city," Schwab said.
The city of Youngstown condemned the house on Jan. 11. The city's code states a condemned home can't be sold unless the owner makes the buyer aware and submits a notarized statement to the code official.
"There's something amiss or somebody is not following up with something so this doesn't happen continuously," Schwab said.
"The right hand needs to tell the left hand what they're doing because this is unacceptable," Spear said.
Mike Durkin, superintendent of the city's Code Enforcement Department, said multiple notices of demolition were sent to the previous owner.
"There's no way the city would even remotely know that the ownership took place two days ago, so this is all on the previous property, owner and the real estate company that was selling it that did not disclose that information," he said in a message sent to Nexstar's WKBN.
Owners say it was about more than turning a profit on the home. It was about the history and the dream of revitalization.
"Not only did he lose the house but he lost the history, and I think that's important for Youngstown and what he wants to do," said Spear.
Schwab said Veynovich grew up in the area and is trying to bring it back to how it used to be.
Veynovich isn't sure of his next steps but would like to rebuild on the property.
