NB delays action on hillside house

By Jessica Musicar, Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 | 24 comment(s)

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NORTH BEND — Concerned that enforcing a deadline for dealing a dangerous building could interfere with a potential legal settlement, the North Bend City Council agreed to give the property owner more time.

On Tuesday, the unanimous council gave owner Yesi Guirado an extension to Oct. 14 to make the house at 2505 Sheridan Ave., safe or tear it down. The original deadline closed Sept. 1.

City Attorney Mike Stebbins recommended the extension be granted because enforcing the deadline could interfere with mediation between Guirado and the owner of Sapphires Mongolian Grill, Eugene Hill.

“I think it would seriously jeopardize a resolution ...” Stebbins told the council.

The men are suing each other, and the city has been named as a party. Mediation is scheduled Sept. 4. A trial date is set in April.

Stebbins noted that 50 percent of mediation cases don’t work, but the other half are resolved.

Located above Sapphires, Guirado’s house and property became an ongoing cause of concern in early 2007, when city employees told the council the land under the house was moving, and the building could come down, too.

The hill has slid on and off since 2005. A February slide caused a small avalanche behind a debris dam on the Sapphires’ property. The slide caused the restaurant to close for three days.

On March 11, the City Council ordered Guirado to demolish the house or stabilize the hill by the first day of September, or the city would do it for him. The ultimatum came with a number of additional orders, including gaining a report from a licensed geotechnical engineer. Without one, Guirado is forbidden to work on his property. The council’s order came after many months in which Guirado missed nearly every deadline set by the city.
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To Curious wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:53 PM:

Are you new here? Did you miss the sad story about the people who lived below that hill in the 80s when it slid? We wondered why someone would buy the property and why they were given a building permit for a restaurant. Why didn't we prevent the problem to start with?

G spot wrote on Sep 2, 2008 4:56 PM:

If you go up and take a close look around, the whole hill side from the Hwy. 101/Sheridan Street split is coming down. Take a look at all the cracked walls on the houses on the hills. It is just a matter of time until the other houses follow. Its not rocket science and everyone with the average 6th grade eduation around here can understand.

moonpenny wrote on Sep 1, 2008 2:26 PM:

The great thing in all of this, is that I can almost guarantee there is no insurance on the house or Sapphires. When it all crashes down, no one gets a payday. Could explain why no one wants to touch it. The first one that does and it goes down, is it. Personal lawsuits for injuries or damages. No insurance company to clean up your mess.

Curius wrote on Sep 1, 2008 12:17 PM:

Maybe I missed this from previous stories. Who owns and/or stripped the trees off the property below the house who's roots used to hold the slope in place?

lifer wrote on Aug 30, 2008 5:46 AM:

To NB if there is nothing to see leave..I think this coast is the most beautiful I have seen and this state also. I am very proud to be from this area and consider myself lucky.

clif wrote on Aug 29, 2008 1:53 PM:

Mongolian Grill better pray that the hillside doesn't avalanche and push them clear through the slot machines at the Mill Casino...That hillside has been a disaser for 100 years...

A wrote on Aug 28, 2008 8:30 PM:

I can't believe they are still dealing with this house. This was the first out of three houses in NB that was brought to attention. The house on brussels is gone and the house on McPherson is gone but the house on the hill is still standing there? Why did the council act so fast on the other two houses but the first and most dangerous house is still standing?

Resident wrote on Aug 28, 2008 6:36 PM:

Why would someone buy property below a house that is dangling from a hill anyway?

NB wrote on Aug 28, 2008 10:50 AM:

Just one more thing wrong with our cities around here, nobody does anything about anything, except try to find more ways to get more money from the taxpayers for stupid things they want to do to make our "ghost towns" more appealing to tourists, ha ha, what tourist wants to stop in our dead towns. Nothing to see, nothing to shop for, no decent restaurants, no nothing here. If the city councils, the Port Commissioners, the County Commissioners, etc. were all fired today, nothing would change except our taxes wouldn't go up to pay for unneeded things, that do no good for our area. CB And NB think putting in "boardwalks" is going to get tourists to stop, to see what ???? Ha Ha

TOM wrote on Aug 28, 2008 8:06 AM:

If the "City" cannot mane a decision on something as important as this mess, then why should we allow them to make decisions concerning out tax dollar. I would bet you one thing. If one of the City counsel persons or the mayor or especially the city manager or the city's elustrious city attorney lived at the BOTTOM of all of this mess, it would have already been resolved. NB tax payers should be up in arms over the City even considering giving these people another extention.

Coos Bay Person wrote on Aug 27, 2008 9:14 PM:

I think the City of North Bend is scared to do something, and if the house is taken down, means less money on the tax rolls for them.

CB Lifer wrote on Aug 27, 2008 8:26 PM:

It has happened MORE than once already! Winter's coming AGAIN, that means MORE water to wash away. North Bend ought to buy the house and tear it down. They guy that owns it is going to lose everything he put into it to purchase it, give him something, and take care of it yourself North Bend! Come on, you are all better and smarter than the Coos Bay end of town, so prove it! Get 'R done!!!

nonsense wrote on Aug 27, 2008 4:50 PM:

Condemn it and remove it or burn it. Seems easy to me.

NB resident wrote on Aug 27, 2008 4:35 PM:

Are you kidding me that this is still being discussed...there are so many other important items that need attention....stick to your deadline city officials, quit worrying about being popular to get the vote and move one already!!! Obviously the owner of the house thinks your deadlines are joke and so do WE.....I guess you'll be pushed in a corner once someone get hurts or is killed...that would be awful but definately a strong possiblity if you wait much into the winter time...

Observer wrote on Aug 27, 2008 4:31 PM:

Its just like raising kids....if you continue to make threats or promises without sticking them, then you wonder why they don't take you serious the next time....what a joke this is...another reason for a whole new group of public officials (ones with backbones this time would be nice!!!)

To the city of NB wrote on Aug 27, 2008 3:55 PM:

Please, please city of NB: Please go on record and really explain your decisions to let this go on. Tell us, those who elected you, why. WHY!

fubar wrote on Aug 27, 2008 3:27 PM:

i think stebbens knows how to lead the so called town fathers into foolishness, and the town fathers just follow along complacently. baaaaahhhhh

JOHN wrote on Aug 27, 2008 2:22 PM:

NO City action(s) are needed here, NONE: Those two forces called TIME and GRAVITY will -- sooner or later -- bring things down to a stable configuration. The only factor that's still negotiable here is WHEN. If not by considered choice, then -- most likely -- on some unpredictable and future "Dark and Stormy Night". (And this did happen once before, and in this very-same location).

ATT wrote on Aug 27, 2008 12:55 PM:

Fabulous idea to keep extending deadlines until Winter. Because THAT'S the time you want to fix a mess like that.

NB wrote on Aug 27, 2008 12:51 PM:

What is wrong with the city of NB, letting this go on so long, are they waiting for someone to get hurt or worse before making this man do something about this situation ? Then they can be sued and righfully so, for being so stupid.....

Joe Sixpack wrote on Aug 27, 2008 12:08 PM:

Don't devalue the land around it or build on the lot north that he bout to, this will continue to entangle the city!

Just An Observer wrote on Aug 27, 2008 11:49 AM:

"Stebbins noted that 50 percent of mediation cases don’t work, but the other half are resolved."


Gee, isn't Stebbins a brilliant attorney for stating the obvious...LOL! Seeeeriously though, NB has let this drag on too long. Tear the place down and let the lawyers fight over nothing more than an empty lot and a hillside.

For Shame... wrote on Aug 27, 2008 11:24 AM:

Why is this still an issue in North Bend? Is it because our elected officials refuse to make a decision? This should have been settled long ago. The house is not livable, the property is a loss. Tear it down and start over somewhere else. Why drag it out further?

Sometimes you must make a decision that will be unpopular with someone. You can not please everybody all the time.

fubar wrote on Aug 27, 2008 11:13 AM:

gad, what a buncha milk toast back peddlers. it's a good thing this is viewed as not serious. heaven help us if it was. gad

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