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Letter to the editor

Smelly house will be razed

The city is taking the action after neighbors complain of "putrid" odors and vermin.

By Rita Farlow, Times Staff Writer
Published February 28, 2008

In mid-December animal control removed nearly 200 cats from 759 Seminole Blvd. Now the house will be demolished.
	[Douglas R. Clifford | Times]

TARPON SPRINGS - David Lero said his property "stinks horrid" from the smell of dead rats and cat urine emanating from his next door neighbor's home.

Another neighbor referred to the odor as "putrid."

"It's like a big litter box, that house is," said neighbor Kim Norris.

At a workshop Tuesday night, city commissioners agreed residents deserved some relief from the noxious odors and pest infestation at 759 Seminole Blvd. They declined to intervene on the homeowner's behalf and will allow the home to be demolished.

In December, Pinellas Animal Services removed 196 cats from the gray house. Cat urine and several inches of feces covered the inside of the house, which was subsequently condemned for unsanitary conditions.

Homeowner Carl Barlow Jr. told the commission he didn't have the money to clean up the property. Barlow Jr. missed a 60-day deadline to get permits for repairs or demolition, said Joseph A. DiPasqua, development services director.

Commissioners declined an option that would have allowed the city to pay for cleanup and then place a lien on the property to recoup costs. Instead, they'll proceed with demolition.

Demolition of a home the size of the Barlows' generally would cost a few thousand dollars, DiPasqua said. However, this demolition could be much more costly because the home will need to be pretreated to kill remaining rodents, and debris must be handled as hazardous material, which can increase disposal cost. Further treatment of the soil may be necessary once the house is gone, DiPasqua said.

He could not say exactly when the house would be torn down, but he added the city plans to move as swiftly as possible.

Barlow Jr. said he was sorry the situation got so out of control.

"I honestly apologize for all the problems that my property has caused you. It certainly was not our intent," he told his neighbors.

His wife, Marsha, covered her face with her hands and cried several times during the workshop.

Neighbors said they've had to limit their time outdoors to avoid the stench for at least the last eight years. Several neighbors reported being attacked by fleas whenever they step on the property or even walking on the sidewalk in front of it.

One neighbor said she and her children have suffered from allergies, headaches and recurring sinus infections, which they attribute to the noxious odors.

Neighbors also expressed concern that the malodorous fumes and pest infestations were negatively affecting their property values.

Lero, the next-door neighbor, said he didn't have animosity toward the Barlows and said he hoped the city would assist them in finding a new place to live. "We don't want to see anyone out on the street," he said.

Several commissioners expressed sympathy for the Barlows, but said they also had to consider the needs of nearby residents.

Commissioner Robin Saenger said she would like to see those neighbors get "immediate relief."

Mayor Beverley Billiris said it was not an easy decision to make.

"It's a very sad day in Tarpon Springs when we have to do something like this," she said.

Rita Farlow can be reached at farlow@sptimes.com or 727 445-4162.

[Last modified February 27, 2008, 23:02:18]