City Council votes to condemn elderly woman’s property
By THOMAS MICHALSKI
Article published on Friday, Aug. 4, 2006  |
PINELLAS PARK – The City Council at its July 27 meeting agreed to launch condemnation proceedings against an elderly woman whose home allegedly is overrun by rats, roaches and is uninhabitable.
The property at 8480 43rd St. contains a house and a large storage shed she so filled with bundled papers and other items that the roof is caving in.
The property is littered with old appliances, televisions and even half a car.
The woman, Mabel Sawvell, still lives on the property.
Michael Gustafson, city manager, said officials are concerned over her welfare and that of other property owners.
It is not the first time the woman’s home came under scrutiny. About five years ago the city took her to court, but she brought the land up to legal standards and actions were dropped.
James Denhardt, city attorney, said the proceedings do not mean automatic ejection from the property. If Sawvell cleans up the land, the legal actions would be suspended.
Gustafson, meanwhile, said the city is attempting to work with Sawvell.
“We don’t want to throw anyone off their property,” Gustafson said.
But city officials said they are being left with no alternative since the property fell into disrepair again and the elderly woman refuses help.
Sawvell lost another parcel that was located near city hall a few years ago when that house was condemned, forcing her to move into a mobile home that was on the property. Sawvell was not available for comment.
City officials offered her son, who lives in Pinellas County, and his lawyer a deal that would include cleaning up the property, razing the home and outbuildings and paying an undetermined amount of cash for the property.
Neither Sawvell or the others ever responded to the proposal.
Marshall Cooke, a local activist who is Sawvell’s friend and often helps her with shopping and other chores, described the woman as a “collector” of papers, old appliances and other discarded items.
City officials said that the rooms inside the one-story home are so filled with boxes and bags that paths are needed to get about the house.
“Mabel is from the old school when Depression-minded people collected everything in case of another national financial disaster,” Cooke said.
Patrick Murphy, zoning director, said the only thing holding up the metal storage building is the material packed inside. A storm caused a large hole in the roof.
“It’s a very serious problem for not only Ms. Sawvell, but for her neighbors as well,” Murphy said. “We must be concerned with their health and welfare.”
City officials are looking for a new place for Sawvell to live if they should be successful in having her removed from her property.
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Article published on Friday, Aug. 4, 2006
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