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More problems at Euclid apartment complex, contractor says North Pointe should be condemned

Posted at 5:55 PM, Jul 14, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-15 12:59:50-04

You could call Euclid a city in a battle with itself.

At the center of the controversy, a giant apartment complex plagued with problems.

Some Euclid city council members are now formally demanding the mayor's office take action. At Monday night's council meeting, they will vote on a resolution to send multiple inspectors into North Pointe ahead of its planned inspection date currently scheduled for mid-August.

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Meantime, the list of health and safety concerns at the massive apartment community continues to grow.

"That place is an absolute disaster," said Thomas Cooke.

Just this week, a fire inspection revealed more code violations.

"The city is not responding quick enough or hard enough," said Cooke.

The issues we continue to uncover are not just a concern for people who call this complex home.

"This is my city," said Cooke.

The lifelong Euclid resident, with deep roots in his community, lives around the corner from North Pointe.

"When I push my feet down you can smell the rotting carcasses," said Cooke while standing in front of North Pointe.

It wasn't until his wife came across several rats while on a bike ride that he discovered what was happening so close to home.

"This is not acceptable. Not in a heart beat. No way," said Cooke.

Topping his list of concerns is the infestation of rats.

"If I'm seeing 20 rats scurrying, then there's got to be hundreds," said Cooke.

On Friday, Cooke pointed out numerous burrows right along Lakeshore Boulevard.

"It should not be happening here. Not in this city, no," said Cooke

Euclid's Law Director, Kelley Sweeney, says the Cuyahoga County Board of Health reports a 75% reduction in the rat population at North Pointe.

"The law director is wrong, she doesn't know what she's talking about, the evidence is here. It's clear no one has been here, no one is doing anything. They haven't done anything," said Cooke.

While checking out the grounds, Cooke got a chance to go inside North Pointe earlier this week.

"They should not have to be subjected to this kind of living," said Cooke.

Cooke's camera captured mold growing on the walls, water logged ceiling tiles, and a parking garage where fireproofing is falling to the ground, along with rusted out columns and beams.

"If that was anybody's home and their home was in that shape, it would be condemned immediately," said Cooke.

Cooke says despite what the city is saying, the needs of North Pointe residents are not being met.

"If it's happening here it's happening somewhere else within this community and that's wrong. That's dead wrong," said Cooke.

Sweeney refused our multiple requests for an on-camera interview. She says the city is not ignoring North Pointe residents' cries for help and that the major health and safety issues are being handled through prosecution.

The building's owner is currently facing charges and is being given time to correct the issues.

Sweeney also said they're working on these issues and wants residents to be patient with new management, which she says has the residents' best interest at heart.

As of now, the city's inspector is slated to check out North Pointe on August 14.