3 Lead Hazard Properties In Shaker Heights

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH - Three Shaker Heights properties have been ordered vacated by the Ohio Department of Health (OHDOH) due to lead hazards, the department says. The properties were three of approximately 540 properties that were recently listed in the lead hazard registry published by the OHDOH.

All of the properties in the registry refused to correct lead hazards that were present. The property owners have now been ordered to vacate the premises and the properties have been declared unsafe for human occupation.

"This means that no person should be living in these properties until the identified lead hazards have been corrected, the properties pass a clearance examination, and the lead hazard control order has been lifted by the Ohio Department of Health or its delegated local board of health," the OHDOH said on its website.

All of the listed homes are currently labeled with placards saying the homes should not be occupied by humans until the hazards are corrected.

The three Shaker properties that have been deemed hazardous are:

• 3547 Avalon Road
• 18507 Newell Road UP
• 3108 Van Aken Boulevard

To see the full list of properties throughout the state, click here.

Stephanie McConoughey, a program manager with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, said it is difficult for a house to land at this point. First, the home must be in a high-risk zip code. McConoughey says there are about 20 high-risk zip codes in Cuyahoga County alone. Children living in houses in those zip codes have their blood drawn at regular wellness visits to their doctors. If they have a lead level of 10 micrograms per deciliter of blood it triggers a mandatory house check by inspectors.

"We use XRF technology, which is essentially X-Ray technology, and collect dust wipes or any paint hazards in the house," she told Patch. "If any surface we test is in deteriorating condition, the owner if required to remediate that hazard."

The owner of the property then has 90 days to correct the hazards. However, McCounoughey said it is fairly easy to receive an extension.

"Here in Cuyahoga County we are fortunate that we have federal funding to remediate lead paint hazards in their homes. Owners are offered grant dollars," she said. "If they still fail to fix those hazards it pushes us to the enforcement process."

"You have to go through a lot to not comply," she said. "You have to be adamant about not fixing your property. We have a lot of resources to fix those properties."

Neighboring Cleveland Heights had four lead hazard properties.

Photo from Google Earth