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Act Swiftly On Dangers to Public

Local government officials enforcing building codes and other rules intended to safeguard against threats to health and safety are right to work with property owners in attempts to correct deficiencies — in many cases. But when clear and present danger exists, repairs need to be made quickly.

As we reported this week, a residential structure on 23rd Street in Wheeling has been in dangerous condition for some time. Part of the building has collapsed. At some point, additional damage may occur, threatening anyone nearby. The presence of temporary barriers to keep people away from the house is evidence of the potential for trouble.

City Manager Robert Herron told our reporter the owner of that building has been cooperative and “has expressed willingness to demolish his building …”

But a complication common in many older neighborhoods has kept that from happening. The building in question shares a common wall with another house. It is not in good condition, either, but by itself may not pose a safety hazard.

That building’s owner “has not been compliant” in dealing with the problem, Herron said.

For that reason, city officials plan to obtain a nuisance declaration that would allow for emergency demolition of the more dangerous building. That should be done as swiftly as possible.

When threats to health and safety can be corrected expeditiously — and property owners cooperate and move with reasonable speed to get needed work done — city officials ought to allow them some time to comply with building codes. But when a situation such as that on 23rd Street exists, there is no choice but to act decisively to correct the problem — before someone gets hurt.

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