Stella Cruz lives with her daughter and husband on Home Avenue in a house managed by Rex Wells, a former biology teacher. It has been more than a year since the house was cited by Fort Wayne Neighborhood Code Enforcement for deteriorating siding and trim. Eventually the house will get new siding, he said. Maybe, maybe not. I don't think so.
Painting often is a low priority among landlords, health officials say.
But chipped paint can contain lead and is a serious health hazard if children eat it. It is a point of neglect. It should be painted. Eric Fisher, highly regarded by Neighborhood Code Enforcement officials for refurbishing old houses mostly for resale, said he currently rents about 90 homes. Property records in early September listed 100 properties under Fisher's name.