Nuisance property ordered closed

HARRISON TOWNSHIP, (WDTN) - Harrison Township neighbors are relieved after officials shut down a nuisance property.
    
The home is located at 2714 Boulder Avenue.

On Tuesday, the Montgomery County Prosecutor ordered it closed, citing evidence of drug dealing and prostitution.

"We haven't had this type of problem in this neighborhood since I've lived here, and I've lived here 20 years," said Mike Price.

Residents like Price said they have been waiting for almost two years to see the house shut down.

"The residents would see traffic coming in and out, like a grocery store, and they certainly weren't buying bread here," said Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck.

Heck said they warned both the renter and property owner to clean it up or face court action. When the problem persisted, officials went to a judge and got a nuisance abatement.

A nuisance abatement means the property can not be occupied for at least 30 days, and possibly as long as a year.

This is only the fourth time that this kind of action has been taken against a property owner in Montgomery County but, Heck said it helped in the past and he is hopeful it will improve things on Boulder Avenue.

"It's really bad for the community," said Heck. "These people have a right to live in a peaceful community and this can't be tolerated".