City says Agapion showing cooperation in Fisher Park
For 50 years, William Agapion has fought city building inspectors and his tenants when they complained about the upkeep of his enormous rental property holdings.
Agapion was the in the news last week when the city began tearing down eight Agapion apartments on Guerrant Street. Apapion had failed to meet deadlines for making repairs.
But in a switch, the city's Department of Housing and Community Development says Agapion has shown cooperation in repairing an old rental apartment house at 112 E. Hendrix St. in the Fisher Park Historic District.
Mike Cowhig, who advises the Greensboro Historic Preservation Commission about properties in Fisher Park and the other two local historic districts, says Agapion has appeared at commission meetings about the property "and he has been good to work with."
Cowhig says the house has some unusual architectural features, and Agapion has tried to repair them with historical accuracy. He also has matched the old brick on the house.
Of course, the city had to force Agapion to make the repairs. But at least he did it, instead of having the city do it for him and billing him the cost. Cowhig said the apartment house was in deplorable condition. Neighbors complained.
The city invoked an ordiance that applies only to the historic districts. It's called "Demolition by Neglect," but which city officials say it really should be called "Prevention of Demolition of Neglect.''
When a property becomes rundown and the owner refuses to make repairs, the city can hire a contractor to do the work and bill the owner. The rest of the city is governed by an ordinance that requires a building or house to be demolished if the owner fails to do a timely rehab.
The preservation commission is expected to receive a final progress report on the Hendrix Street apartment house at its next meeting in late August.
