A Bank of America branch manager in Riverdale faces jail time if the banking giant continues to ignore city orders to demolish a vacant, fire-damaged home.
The bank, however, says it can’t comply because it doesn’t own the home.
Riverdale city officials have tried for more than six months to get the bank to tear down the dilapidated property, and the bank has ignored requests to appear in court, city attorney Deana Johnson said.
“We’ve cited and served them with legal process and they’ve not come,” Johnson said.
Bank of America spokesperson Jumana Bauwens said the company is “in conversations with the city of Riverdale to resolve this matter and hope to do so.
“The bank does not own this property and cannot itself take any action towards demolishing it,” she added, “but we recognize the city’s concerns and the need to get this resolved.” She did not explain why the bank no longer owns the property.
On Wednesday, the bank hired the Atlanta law firm of McGuire Woods to handle the case. Meanwhile, the bank has racked up nearly $20,000 in fines, including a $500-a-day fine imposed several months ago.
A Riverdale City Court judge earlier this week ordered a June 28 hearing for the bank to show cause why the local branch manager should not be arrested for contempt, Johnson said, adding that the bank failed to appear in court in May despite city efforts to keep the branch manager apprised of the situation. \
The branch manager could not be reached.
The house at 6878 Cedar Hill Court in Riverdale caught fire in December 2008, forcing the homeowners to move. The house ended up in foreclosure and was eventually taken over by Bank of America. Riverdale Mayor Evelyn Wynn Dixon, who has received complaints from residents who live near the property, called it “an eyesore.”
In most cases involving foreclosure properties that violate codes, banks “go fix it and there’s no problem,” Johnson said.
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