The management of Summit Plaza, located at 10333 Northfield Road, has vowed to make changes after the property failed recent fire and building inspections.
“We want to comply with them [the village] and take care of them as quickly as possible,” Howard Forman, property manager for the plaza, told Nordonia Hills News on July 15th. “We want to get the property in complete compliance.”
Mayor Jenn Domzalski reported the findings to Council at its July 13th meeting.
The violations stem from a variety of residential and tenant complaints. As well as village inspections which culminated with a July 7th inspection of the property by village officials, owner Howard Shafron and Forman.
Village officials met with plaza ownership and management on July 1st, according to Domzalski’s report.
“Our discussion included property maintenance ordinances that were in violation, fire and safety hazards as well as tenant and resident complaints,” she said.
Domzalski was willing to work with plaza management.
“I expressed my intent to form a new and positive partnership beginning with a fresh start at the drawing board but stressed that we must take swift action on these matters and have proper lines of communication for this to be a productive process, “she said.
Forman requested village officials walk him through the complaints to get him up to speed. The on-site walkthrough was July 7th, Domzalski said.
Pictures taken by village officials, detailed several safety and fire violations.
“[Service and building superintendent] Mr. [Jason] Walters provided photos and an explanation that were taken within the week prior [Village Fire] Chief [Jason] Buss explained the current fire and safety issues.”
Village officials and plaza management “had a productive in-depth discussion throughout the walk.” Domzalski said.
“We did acknowledge that we were already able to see that there had been some work on the property since the meeting the week prior,” she said.
Domzalski advised Walters and Buss to prepare and submit their violation reports after the inspection.
“We continue to see progress being made at this time. However, I am understanding that I have tasked them with an enormous list,” the mayor told Council.
The mayor added she will continue to work diligently with Shafron and Forman in a healthy partnership.
“But I will stand firm in my expectations,” she said. “Northfield Plaza has been a public outcry for years. This year forward, I am confident in my department heads that these issues will begin seeing resolution.”
Domzalski asked everyone to understand conversations dealing with business violations can be difficult for all involved. She also delegated department heads best suited to assist in dealing with plaza issues. She also asked the Council’s full support.
“The department heads have all been working very closely together and communicating daily to achieve improvements necessary for proper growth,” she said. “I look forward to making our residents and business owner’s proud of our community,” she said.
Shafron has owned the 30-unit property since 2000. He has until September 5th, to repair more than 10 building inspection code violations or face possible legal action.
The plaza also failed a 23-point annual exterior fire code inspection.
Some of the fire inspection violations included:
Fire lane needs to be restored around the building, rear egress doors need a clear path away from the building, one unit had piles of combustibles, units not numbered, extension cords used as outside wiring, birds nesting in broken electric boxes and buckets of unknown materials stored behind buildings.
Building department violations included unclean sidewalks, weeds, uncollected garbage and a dilapidated sign which must be removed.
Forman, who took over as property manager in January, was unaware of any previous complaints and violations, according to Domzalski.
“I believe these are older violations,” Forman said on July 15th. “We are going to have all the violations hopefully taken care of within August.”
Forman said the current list of violations are a combination of a new property manager (Forman), the hard winter and a turnover of maintenance staff, due in part to the recent pandemic.
“Staffing has been challenging,” Forman said.
Forman said he has never witnessed staffing issues as bad as during Covid-19.
“But no excuses. We are going to comply with the village.,” he said.
Forman wants the plaza to be an object of pride for the village.
“Summit Place wants to be a place where the people from Macedonia, Nordonia, Northfield, Northfield Center and Northfield Village can come to shop and dine,” he said. “And we want to make sure our property is in the best condition it can be in.”
Other legislation
A resolution passed appointing Jaqueline Ashworth as a part-time paramedic.
A resolution passed authorizing the village insurance policies with Selective, Hanover, Cincinnati and Hudson insurance companies through Wichert Insurance Agency.
A resolution passed authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with Cloudpermit, Inc. for building and code enforcement software and maintenance services.
A resolution passed authorizing the trade of Northfield Village fire engine 3513 to Auburn Career Center for education services of $12,500. The credits run through 2024 and can be used for tuition, renting fire training equipment or fire ground training facilities.
