Here is a close up photo of the interior conditions of the building located on the southeast corner of Magnolia and Vermont streets in Gridley. It illustrates the extent of debris and filth that is strewn throughout the structures. Photos by Seti Long

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - At the Aug. 5 Gridley City Council meeting, city attorney Tony Galyean provided a much-needed update on the clean-up of the two abandoned properties at 390 and 110 Virginia St.

The structures have been a source of serious concern and frustration for Gridley residents and business owners for a long time, understandably, those in the immediate vicinity. Resident Stacey Gramps and her daughter, Annie Woods, addressed the council on June 19 of last year. They spoke emphatically and presented each council member with photographs of the horrific condition of the properties. The Gramps’ home is watched by the homeless people who stay in the buildings. The family has witnessed public urination and open drug use. Woods described having been followed by homeless men and expressed concern for her own safety as well as others. A homeless man attempted to break in to their home on June 13, just the week before the council meeting. Woods’ 3-year-old brother became fearful whenever someone came to the door.

 The structures have been a source of serious concern and frustration for Gridley residents and business owners for a long time. Photos by Seti Long

About three months later on Oct. 2, the City Council heard from Community Service Officer Katie Hill who stated that all efforts to contact owners of the property have been unsuccessful. She explained that establishing a receivership would be an option. At the same meeting, President Mike Dahl of the Gridley Lions Club said that the buildings are beyond repair and need demolition, adding “you need to move on this.”

The Gridley Police also voiced a willingness to help with street closures, should the buildings be demolished.

At the most recent Aug. 5 meeting, Attorney Galyean cited myriads of code violations, including accumulation of fire debris and junk, hazardous electrical conditions and structural hazards from decomposed and rotting wood. And the list goes on. He said it would be necessary to establish a health and safety receivership for the properties, handled by an independent law firm that deals in receiverships, Jones Mayer PLC. Attorney Amanda Pope from the firm has been engaged for this. A receiver for the properties has been designated as Red Griswold.

The owners of the two properties are being served with a notice to abate, allowing them 30 days for clean-up. If no response is made, the city will proceed with lawsuits of receivership. The city and the receiver/new owner would then proceed to either clean up or demolish the buildings. However, it would be cheaper for everyone if the owners would assume that responsibility. One of the owners, Devon Waterbury, also owns the warehouse that burned on Aug. 1, across from the Post Office. Galyean indicated that if the owners need more than 30 days, a time schedule agreement would be presented to the City Council for approval. He also reassured the council that “this is moving forward with every bit of urgency that this council has directed that it should.”

 The owners of the two properties are being served with a notice to abate. Photos by Seti Long

Messenger Publishing Group spoke with Attorney Galyean over the phone who indicated that the lengthy process is progressing “fairly expediently.” Several inspections were needed before the notice could be served. Short of having a court order, the city is moving through the necessary steps regarding the owners’ property rights.

Upon hearing this news, Gramps said, “It’s deeply concerning that despite our efforts over a year ago to address the issue of the homeless individuals living in the abandoned buildings, nothing has been done… We’ve witnessed fires being started, ongoing disturbances and the growing risk to both the safety and health of our community... I understand that things take time - certain policies and procedures are necessary - but with time comes the increasing risk of further dangers and potential disasters, especially with this building close to schools and in the path of students walking to and from school daily. Students have provoked the homeless people in the past... How are we going to be proactive and prevent our town from becoming just another place overtaken by these problems?”