Colorado Springs – Two boarded-up four-plexes owned by Douglas Bruce are in violation of the city’s dilapidated buildings ordinance, but the El Paso County commissioner has said he will not comply with a June 14 order to fix the problem.
Since the ordinance was enacted a year ago, the city has targeted about 35 condemned and vacant properties, including Bruce’s buildings on the city’s southeast side.
Bruce, author of the 1992 Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, boarded up the windows in 2003 – at the city’s request – after vagrants were found in one of the buildings.
“Your form’s suggestion that I remove the boards you previously ordered to be installed is ludicrous,” Bruce said in a letter dated July 10 to Ken Lewis, director of code enforcement for the city.
Bruce said in the letter that he plans to sell the buildings, at 4025 Ruskin Way and 335 Ruskin Drive, and said, “You may consider my having the buildings for sale … as my submission of a compliance plan.”
A red and white “for sale by owner” sign with Bruce’s phone number is affixed to one of the buildings. The four-plex at 4025 Ruskin Way has a market value of $52,712 and an assessed value of $4,200, and the four-plex at 335 Ruskin Drive has a market value of $75,773 and an assessed value of $6,030, according to El Paso County assessor’s office records.
A woman who lives about a block from Bruce’s boarded-up properties said she is encouraged the city is taking action.
“He claims that it is the city picking on him, but it’s the neighbors who are calling code enforcement. I called code enforcement,” Angela Artale said.
“It’s an eyesore – an embarrassment to the neighborhood,” Artale said. “It’s very upsetting to me and the other neighbors to see something like that that mars our neighborhood.”
In the past, Bruce has run afoul of city codes in Denver and Pueblo. Both cities accused him of refusing to repair dilapidated, vacant properties. Denver assessor’s office records show Bruce no longer owns properties in Denver. He does own homes in Pueblo.
The city of Colorado Springs has suggested that Bruce install a metal mesh on the outside of the windows to prevent breakage. Bruce said in the letter that he does not intend to install it.
“Each (unit) is virtually ready to occupy once the boards are removed. They are not dilapidated or abandoned. There is no fire hazard. … It is not a legal violation to choose to sell one’s property, nor to have it be empty in the meantime,” Bruce said in the letter.
Artale said the buildings have been vacant since she moved into the neighborhood in 1999.
Lewis said he plans to confer with the city attorney to determine how to proceed.
Under the dilapidated housing ordinance, code enforcement officers inspect properties quarterly. Each time the residence is inspected and problems have not been fixed, the property owner is charged $500. After one year, the city attorney can go to district court and ask a receiver to be appointed for the property, Lewis said.
Staff writer Erin Emery can be reached at 719-522-1360 or eemery@denverpost.com.
