Inspectors Check E. Jackson St. Buildings. (Press Enterprise 070806) Owners who haven't Completed needed repairs may be taken to court..

Rialto Imposed the Improvements and they didn't give them the time to make the imporvements to the property in a timely mannor. I imagine by now that they have gotten the jobs done becuase they have not been in the news as of late. but it is sad for the owners of the property to try to comply with the City and they don't want to work with the owners. even if they are trying to work with them.

BSRanch

Inspectors check East Jackson Street buildings

CODE VIOLATIONS: Owners who haven't completed needed repairs may be taken to court.

12:51 AM PDT on Saturday, July 8, 2006

By MASSIEL LADRÓN DE GUEVARA
The Press-Enterprise

RIALTO - East Jackson Street residents got an early wake-up call Friday when building inspectors -- accompanied by police -- checked for progress in getting apartments up to code.

The inspectors used warrants to see if property owners have worked to improve living conditions following early March raids at 28 buildings, said Chaz Ferguson, chief building official.

Four teams of two inspectors began going through buildings on the south side of East Jackson Street shortly after 8 a.m. Officer John Black could be heard shouting: "Rialto Police, if you are inside, show yourself," as he entered apartments whose locks had to be picked.

Inspectors will cover the north side of the street today and complete a report on their findings in the next week, Ferguson said.

"Once the lawyers have a chance to digest it, we will sit down and strategize with them as to who they want to pull into court," he said.

"In some instances it might mean we will take owners to court to appoint a receiver" to take over their property and do the repairs, Ferguson said.

The receiver would collect rent and finance the repairs, and could put a lien on the property to recover the cost, he said.

Property owners were handed a list of code violations and given until June 1 to have repairs completed. The deadline was extended to July 7 for owners who were showing progress.

The first building that inspectors entered Friday had no dishwasher or stove. The refrigerator had mold growing inside and was not working. Pipes for the kitchen sink were not properly installed.

"This will probably be one of the buildings I will recommend to have a receiver appointed to it," Ferguson said.

Brandy Bullark, who has lived on East Jackson Street for two years, sat outside on a wooden rocking chair that was missing its back. She rubbed her eyes and complained about having to wake up to let inspectors into her apartment.

"Things haven't really changed," she said. "It's just gotten quieter."

The inspections could do some good, but it all depends on if the manager does something to correct the problems, she said.

Because the manager has to deal with so many units at the same time, it could create a lot of pressure, she said.

Since the first inspection, Bullark said the manager has brought a dishwasher to her unit and has repaired a couple of light fixtures.

When inspectors entered the second building on the south side of the street, Chris Dawson, who has lived in his apartment five years, said he hasn't seen many changes.

"Everything that goes wrong I have to fix, and since I've been here the air conditioning hasn't worked."

After visiting the third building, Ferguson said the amount of trash, lack of windows and screens, graffiti and lack of landscaping make it a good candidate for receivership.

Several property owners were expected to be present for the inspections, Ferguson said, but none of them showed.

To make sure the repairs made by owners or receivers are maintained, an association needs to be formed, said John Dutrey, Rialto housing program manager.

"We may be out here in a year and a half with the same problems, and the chances of that happening are pretty good if owners don't get together and form an association," he said.

A meeting with East Jackson Street property owners is scheduled for July 18, he said.

Topics to be discussed include forming an association and making improvements such as installing uniform landscaping, enclosing trash bins and transforming an empty lot into a recreation area, Dutrey said.

Reach Massiel Ladrón De Guevara at 909-806-3054 or mdeguevara@PE.com