SHERBURNE AVENUE within fifteen (15) days after the December 14,
2022, City Council Public Hearing.
Balenger
Sponsors:
Layover to LH November 22, 2022 at 9 am. PO to 1) post $5,000 PD with DSI, 2)
submit work plan including schedule and bids, 3) proof of financing to do rehab and 4)
affidavit dedicating funds to the project.
Russ Waletski, husband of owner, appeared via phone
Moermond: let me clarify before we start. Our records show Katherine Waletski is the
legal owner of this property. Do you have an ownership position? Are you representing
her?
Waletski: 3 daughters and 2 grandchildren, and marriage for 20 years.
Moermond: she’s your wife?
Waletski: yes.
Moermond: so she is your wife and you are representing her, should we add her to call?
Waletski: just me, she’s on her way to the office.
[Moermond gives background of appeals process]
Staff report by Supervisor Joe Yannarelly: The building is a one-story, wood frame,
single-family dwelling with a detached one-stall garage on a lot of 3,001 square feet.
According to our files, it has been a vacant building since April 25, 2016. The current
property owner is Katherine Waletski, per Amanda and Ramsey County Property
records. On August 18, 2022, an inspection of the building was conducted, a list of
deficiencies which constitute a nuisance condition was developed and photographs
were taken. An Order to Abate a Nuisance Building was posted on August 29, 2022,
with a compliance date of September 28, 2022. As of this date, the property remains
in a condition which comprises a nuisance as defined by the legislative code. Taxation
has placed an estimated market value of $20,000 on the land and $97,200 on the
building. Real estate taxes are current. The vacant building registration fees were paid
by assessment on June 1, 2021. A Code Compliance Inspection was done on October
17, 2022. As of November 7, 2022, the $5,000 performance deposit has not been
posted. There have been fourteen Summary Abatement Notices since 2016. There
have been five work orders issued for garbage/rubbish, boarding/securing and
snow/ice. Code Enforcement Officers estimate the cost to repair this structure
exceeds $75,000. The estimated cost to demolish exceeds $30,000.
Moermond: it looks like it used to be a rental property historical and the Certificate of
Occupancy was revoked in 2016. The current owner purchased in 2017 after that
revocation for $34,500. So they weren’t using it as a rental yet but maybe were headed
that way. What are your intentions, Mr. Waletski?
Waletski: we own the building behind this property, an old VFW. 1047 University as
well. What we intended to do was work with MN Housing Authority since January 2021.
We hired a consultant that does proposals for MN Housing Authority to secure funding
for building housing. We were going to build at 1047 University a 43-unit apartment
complex with MN Housing Money and our own funds. We have architectural drawing
that I sent to Joe to show we aren’t blowing smoke. We have a general contractor and
a budget. Larissa Ripley is the top consultant that does most of the proposals by MN
Housing for MN Housing. $50,000 contract with her to walk us through this. Then we