HomeMy WebLinkAbout134 N Shields St - Correspondence - 03/23/2004Community Planning and Environmental Services
Building and Zoning Department
City of Fort Collins
March 23, 2004
Aggressive Property Management
2700 Dunbar Ave.
Fort Collins, Colorado. 80526
Mr. Allen Brown
PO Box 272983
Fort Collins, Colorado 80527
Reference: 134 North Shields.
Correction Notice
Mr. Brown,
The Larimer County assessor's office lists you as the owner of the above referenced
address. This letter shall serve as notice that an inspection of this address was recently
performed, the purpose of which was to verify compliance with the Non -Owner
Occupied Housing Standard, Fort Collins City Code Chapter 5 Article VI Division 2
(Rental Housing Code) as adopted by the City.
The tenant requested an inspection from this office, citing a mold problem and damp
crawl space. My inspection found mold to be growing in the living room N/W corner, in
the master bath floor and in the master bedroom S/E corner. The tenants are unable to
use the master bedroom because of the mildew is quite strong in this area, which is
directly above the most wet area of the crawlspace. The crawlspace is a dirt floor crawl
with much debris, old carpeting, old insulation, lumber and trash about the floor. There
appears to be a plastic covering on top of the dirt. The insulation is installed in the floor
joist and approximately 10-15% of the insulation material has dis-attached from the joist
and is lying on the ground. Numerous areas of insulation are saturated with water with
standing water in about I/4 of the crawlspace. The crawlspace concrete walls are wet. The
ground around the exterior perimeter of the building is depressed all along the
foundation. The roof drains have down spouts without extensions. Any rain will pool and
drain towards the foundation.
The crawlspace is a fertile ground for the growth of molds and mildew, the organic
material, moisture and warmth of the space all add to its existence. Molds and mildews
have been determined by the Larimer County Health Department to be a health risk and
are to be dealt with until removed. Based on the conditions indicated, I hereby declare
this address to be a health risk and a public nuisance.
281 North College Avenue • P.O. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 • (970) 221-6760 • FAX (970) 224-6134
134 N Shields
March 24, 2004
Pg 2.
The following actions are required to be performed within 30 days of receipt of this
notice.
1. Remove all debris from the crawlspace, includes all wetted insulation either still
in the joist space or on the ground, all carpet, all wood and cardboard, all debris.
2. Provide a report from a licensed plumber that all plumbing is free of leaks. With
the amount of water present there is a possibility that leaks in the plumbing exist.
3. Provide cross ventilation through openings in the crawlspace walls. These vents
are to be the closable type for winter freeze protection.
4. Provide 6 mil. plastic covering over all exposed crawlspace dirt.
5. Replace all wetted and removed insulation, installing new insulation in the floor
joist system. Re -attached all dry usable insulation with approved insulation wires.
6. Remove all areas of sheetrock and vinyl floor cover where mold is present or has
been covered with paint. Clean all wood framing behind the removed wallboard
with bleach solution, allow to dry and repeat process, allowing to dry before re-
installing new wallboard to the effected areas.
7. Verify that mold has not spread to under carpet areas, carpet will need to be
pulled back to verify. Replace any carpet which shows signs of molding and treat
sub -floor with bleach.
8. Provide fill dirt to the exterior perimeter of the building to provide positive
drainage away from the building foundation.
9. Provide all downspouts with extensions to aid in diverting water away from the
foundation.
10. Caulk and seal the exterior of all windows and doors and areas where rain and
moisture can enter the building.
Due to the health hazards identified with mold and mildew, these steps are required to
abate the problem I have identified this address as a health risk, if the mold problem and
conditions conducive to its growth are allowed to continue unchecked, the Certificate of
Occupancy will be revoked and the tenants ordered to vacate with utilities ordered
disconnected. The occupancy of this address is therefore placed on a "temporary" status,
allowing you the 30 days to resolve the conditions noted. A re -inspection is to be
scheduled on or before April 26, 2004.
Keep osted as to the corrections,
Michael W. Gebo
Codes & Inspections Administrator