DELAWARE, Ohio -- Boarded up homes with overgrown landscapes are attracting problems in several Central Ohio communities.
It is estimated that 5,000 Columbus homes are vacant just in Columbus, but the issue reaches far beyond the Interstate 270 outerbelt.
Homes along Oak Street in Delaware are valued at about $125,000 or more. They are well-manicured and cared for. That is, all of them but one home at 27 Oak Street.
"It definitely qualifies as a house from hell. I'm sick of staring at it," said Matt Clark, an area neighbor.
The home has been abandoned for years. There has been a fire at the location and incredible vandalism.
The city knows about the home, but has had trouble finding an owner.
"He died after it burned. I'd say about three years ago it burned," said Ruth Siders, an area resident.
"There was a death related to ownership of the property. There were issues related to there not being an estate to process the will and just recently, there was the presence of an unknown heir," said Lee Yoakum, spokesman for the City of Delaware.
A neighbor said the heir moved to Las Vegas, a family moved into the home and then they caught the laundry room on fire.
The city said it hopes to finalize who the owner is within the next few weeks and have it torn down by the end of the year.
Neighbors said the home can't be demolished soon enough.
"It's a sign of disrespect to me -- for someone to leave this here, leave their problem here for all of us citizens to deal with," said Jason Hunter, a neighbor.
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