City, owners of former frat house resolve code violations
Oxford's law director and fire chief avoided threats of litigation and resolved code violation issues with the owners of 405 E. Vine Street. The property used to house a now-suspended fraternity.
The City of Oxford sidestepped potential legal action regarding the former fraternity house at 405 E Vine Street, Law Director Christopher Conard said during a city council meeting on Aug. 20.
The property, once occupied by the suspended Sigma Pi fraternity, was found to have multiple health and safety code violations during its last inspection on Oct. 10, 2023.
“Two weeks ago, I met with the fire chief at a larger former fraternity house, and in that case, there were some undercurrents of potential threats of litigation,” Conard said during the meeting. “We met with the property owners and their representatives [and] we worked out resolutions.”
The inspection report stated several issues with the house, including broken windows, left-out uneaten food in bedrooms, potential mildew in a bathroom, graffiti, rust and sanitation issues.
According to Miami University’s website, Sigma Pi was previously suspended on April 22, 2022, after being “found responsible for Damage/Theft of Property, Endangering Health or Safety, and Violation of the Law.” The suspension was supposed to last until May 14, 2023, but the fraternity was later found to be violating the imposed sanctions by maintaining a presence on campus. The university extended the suspension until June 12, 2028.
“The message that I want to provide is that the city takes the responsibility very seriously of making sure that these rental units where these students and families live are safe,” Conard said.
Oxford’s Property Maintenance Code mandates that residential and nonresidential property owners or occupants maintain the upkeep of their properties and buildings. Inspections are required every 18-24 months to check for compliance.
In an email statement, Conard wrote that the property owners of 405 E Vine Street are pursuing renovations to meet the applicable fire and safety codes. If these renovations are completed on schedule, students may be living in the building during this semester.
A representative for the property owners declined to comment on the situation.
“We will work with you,” Conard said in the Aug. 20 meeting. “This is not an adversarial process, and it’s not intended to be.”
