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Friday, January 30, 1976
University Daily Kansan
Housing code sets new standards, official says
By MARY ANN DAUGHERTY
Staff Writer
The health and welfare of many University of Kansas students is in the hands of a relatively small group of Lawrence-landlords—a city official saves.
Landlords have a legal obligation to look out for their tenants, Sharon Watson, city housing inspector, said yesterday. But often, she said, flagrant violations of the city's housing code, known as the Minimum Structures Code, go unchecked.
Watson said the worst housing in the city was rental property, in which most students lived.
"A large part of the problem is created when you take a structure that was built for one family, and it is chopped and divided into a number of apartments," she said. "In some cases single structures are divided into 12 or 13 apartments."
There's nothing necessarily wrong with dividing houses into apartments, Watson said, but in many cases it is done without complying with the city housing code.
"Half of the community (KU students) lives here only nine months of the year," she said. "That situation puts an extreme demand on rental housing."
City community development officials plan to hire a firm to do a house-by-house inspection of the city, probably next year, she said. Information gathered in the industry should be used to develop programs to improve much of the city's housing, she said.
Watson said she knew of no plans that tried to solve housing deficiencies in schools. The needs of off-campus students will be taken into consideration in the
development of long-term housing programs, she said.
Nearly a year ago, Lawrence city officials said the housing code was too strict and too difficult to enforce. After several months of litigation, the city adopted a new housing code, Nov. 6, 1975.
The new code differs in such things as ceiling height, heating, ventilation and floor
For example, Watson said, the new code requires that cellings be at least six feet deep.
"With so many basement apartments in the city, the commissioners felt seven feet wide."
Under the old code, she said all rooms in a dwelling were required to be heated to at least 70 degrees. She said the new room had to be heated from one room be heated to at least 68 degrees.
"The commission felt the old restriction was too strict," Watson said. "This way, it's possible to close off a room or two and save money on heating bills."
Late last summer, the city inspection office began operating under the administration of the community development office, which is directed by Kyle Andregg. It was formerly under the public works administration.
Watson said the move was made so housing inspectors could work more closely with community development officials who had been helping with elderly and low-income people.
Lawrence received a $50,000 community development grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) last summer. City community development
The HUD target areas are all of North Lawrence and an area bordered by the Kansas River on the north, the Santa Fita River on the south and Massachusetts on the west.
officials and members of the East Central Kansas Community Action Program are using the money to upgrade housing in two target areas outlined by HUD.
"If the program can get on its feet, it will have a real impact." Watson said.
said. Currently, inspectors are working in a target area outlined by the city commission, she said, and won't inspect other dwellings unless they receive specific complaints, until the houses in the city's target area have been improved.
Part of the problem of enforcing the housing code, she said, is that so many people, particularly older men, would become homeless because the money to buy their property up to city housing standards.
"It is required by law that they improve their property," she said, "but when they honestly don't have the money to do it, it is difficult for me to tell them they have to."
But, Watson said, almost anyone who owns rental property is making an income from renting.
The patrolman said that while he was talking to the bartender he saw Schumm walk out a door. When Schumm was walking back in, and the patrolman followed.
The dispatcher let the phone ring repeatedly, police said, but no one answered. The patrolman said he left his car to investigate and found both the front door and the back door unlocked, and asked the bartender approached him and asked him whether he needed any help.
watson said tenants should take their complaints to their landlords, who, in many cases, would ruke necessary repairs. If a complaint was made, the city inspection office should be notified.
Eventually, every house in the area will be inspected, Watson said.
The city commission's target area is of 15th, south of Ninth, west of Massapequa.
If he won't improve the property, she said, he can present his arguments at a hearing. Within five days after the hearing, Watson said, an order is given to make the repairs, vacate the property or agree to its demolition.
regular housing inspections, she said,
students could protect their safety if they
inspected these items before renting
property:
A bartender at the club, Kerry S. Loeb, 23 was charged with contributing to illegal gambling, police said. The men were or- jailed and charged with aggravation and released on $50 bond each.
- Heaters, especially portable ones, should be vented. Unvented heaters can be fire hazards or cause chronic headaches, nausea or asphyxiation.
Property owners may appeal the order to the Minimum Structures Board of Appeals, which listens to about six complaints each month, she said.
The city doesn't inspect all dwellings, she
if he agrees to improve his property, she said, he is given 30 days to begin repairs 60 days later.
If violations are found, the owner is sent a letter requesting that he reveal his intentions within two weeks to comply with the city housing code she said.
- Gas lines shouldn't be connected with copper. Hydrogen sulfide in the gas may break down the copper and cause gas leaks or explosions.
The patrolman who discovered the game said that he had noticed cars in the club parking at 2 a.m., which he thought was unusual. He radioed the dispatcher, he said, and asked him to telephone the club and ask them to wave out the door if nothing was wrong.
Electrical contacts and wiring should be covered.
About $7 in cash, and markers totaling more than $300 were issued as evidence of the attack.
- Electrical switch boxes should be built into a case so that electricity can be turned off in case of emergency.
The patrolman said that when he entered the room he found four men standing around a table with cards, money and markers on it. He said he then radioed for a supervisors and back-up units to mark the men and escort the men to the shefft's office.
Although city housing inspectors make
—Every room should have at least two electrical outlets. If it has an overhead outlet, only needs one outlet. Lack of outlets lets the use of extension cables and possible fires.
Police discover gambling game at Elk's Club
—Each plumbing fixture should have a visible water trap. (A trap is a bend in the plumbing that allows water to remain in the sink.) The faucet and drain are sewer gases from escaping into the room.)
What was described by police as an illegal gambling game was discovered by a police officer at the Lawrence Elks Club, 3507 W. 23rd, Wednesday night. A routine check of the club led to the arrests of five local men involved in the game, police said.
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Booked on charges of illegal gambling were Eugene L. Hardtarfer, 40, 933 Holiday; Keth C. Robinson, 37, 1741 W; 20th; Alan L. Lileoen, 29, 1815 W, 28th; and Robert J. Schumm, 29, 1720 St. Andrews, police said.
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