OGDEN -- Due to an apparent oversight, the city hasn't placed tax liens on eight properties belonging to a company with ties to developer Gadi Leshem so it can recover demolition costs for vacant homes in the Ogden River Project area.
It was only recently discovered liens for properties belonging to Ogden Riverfront Development Co. at 1915, 1921, 1929, 1935, 1955, 1957 and 1965 Grant Ave., as well as for 1909 Childs Ave., haven't been filed with the Weber County Assessor's Office, said Tom Christopulos, the city's business development manager.
"We got to demolishing (the vacant homes) and forgot to ... do the filings," Christopulos said, adding that the liens will likely be filed this week.
"It's not a big issue."
The city has placed a $9,917 lien against property in the river project area at 1923 Grant Ave. owned by Remington Commercial Properties for demolition of a home and weed cleanup, Weber County tax records indicate.
Last year, the city determined the homes belonging to Ogden Riverfront Development and Remington Commercial Properties were dangerous and agreed to demolish them and file liens to recover its costs, according to records obtained by the Standard-Examiner.
Information regarding how much the city spent to tear down the homes was not available from municipal officials.
Meanwhile, Jonny Ballard, recently appointed as the city's community development manager, said he's committed to ensuring that vacant houses still standing within the Ogden River Project boundaries stay boarded up and tidy.
"It needs to be different than it is now," he said. "The goal is to make it better than it's been."
Ogden Riverfront Development owns 42 parcels and is the largest landholder in the river project area, according to records from the Weber County Recorder's Office.
The remaining parcels in the 60-acre development that straddles the Ogden River from 18th to 20th streets and Washington Boulevard to Wall Avenue belong to the city and other individuals.
The city's Redevelopment Agency recently purchased buildings at 260 and 264 20th St. and 1875 and 1803 Grant Ave., all of which are within the river project boundaries.
Those buildings are slated to be torn down in the next several weeks, said Ward Ogden, a senior project coordinator for the city's Community Development Department.
Several river project properties have been a haven for junk, debris and even an abandoned boat. In addition, arsonists have set some abandoned homes in the development on fire.
Shawn Paskins, owner of Clean Green Lawn Care, said he has been hired by Ogden Riverfront Development to keep houses boarded up and properties free of trash and weeds.
Paskins, who spends about eight hours a week maintaining the properties, hauled away five truckloads of debris last fall.
He is currently focused on removing old tires and trash from parcels on Kiesel Avenue and replacing boards on several vacant homes.
Paskins said he has also found a lot of tubing stripped from copper wiring possibly stolen from area construction sites.
"There was a ton of stuff to remove in the beginning," he said, "but it's getting better."
Leshem could not be reached for comment regarding cleanup of Ogden Riverfront Development's properties.
City officials want to see abandoned homes in the river project area demolished as soon as possible, said Richard McConkie, community and economic director.
However, that may not happen until development of the project starts, he said.
A timeline for undertaking the river project has not been set.
Lee Homes, based in Marina del Rey, Calif., has submitted a master plan agreement to the city RDA, but no action has been taken.
Lee Homes' plans for the development include the construction of about 1,000 residential units, including 96 single-family homes.
The river development proposal also calls for 300,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, as well as open space.
Related link: This article is a topic of discussion at Weber County Forum.
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