Fircrest gets land for park after eviction

For nearly two decades, Fircrest officials have wanted to expand the city’s second-largest park, but first they would have to acquire two homes next to it.

Now, the way officials have secured one of those homes near 10-acre Fircrest Park has upset a city councilman and some neighbors.

The council voted Oct. 25 to buy the property on the 400 block of Spring Street for $120,000 plus closing costs. A day earlier, the homeowner had her son, his wife and their four young children evicted from the property.

City Councilman Matthew Jolibois said in an interview the decision makes it look like the city had a hand in their removal.

“What comes first: policy and politics, or people and principle?” he asked.

Both City Manager Rick Rosenbladt and David Britton, the homeowner’s lawyer, said the city had no role in ousting the family.

Britton said the family refused to leave after the owner allowed them to live there for several months. The elderly owner needed the money from the sale of the home to pay for her care at a retirement home, he said.

“She’s in a bad situation also,” Britton said.

Plans to expand Fircrest Park date back to 1994, when city leaders adopted a master parks plan. It directed the city to acquire the properties “for expansion of the baseball fields or future library or other city facility.”

A drawing in the plan shows a new community building located on the property. The plan is scheduled to receive an update next year.

Mayor David Viafore said the homeowner’s daughter approached the city about selling the property last year, but officials declined because it was occupied. Rosenbladt said the owner approached the city again this summer. The city manager said officials were told the family would be moving out.

That didn’t happen. The owner had moved to a retirement home on July 15. Her son and family had not paid any rent while residing at her home, and they were living there “purely at the sufferance” of the owner, court records say.

The owner filed suit to evict the family on Sept. 23. The family, who could not be reached to comment for this article, didn’t defend itself in the lawsuit.

A Pierce County Superior Court judge granted a court order to remove the family and a judgment of $4,220 for unpaid rent, interest and attorney fees on Oct. 17, records say. A Pierce County deputy served the court order and removed the family from the home on Oct. 24, records say.

Jolibois twice cast the lone “no” vote when the property came up for council consideration: first on July 26, when it authorized moving money for the property purchase, and again on Oct. 26 when it approved the sale.

Jolibois said city officials were remiss in not knowing the family was still living there when the sale was negotiated, and he expressed concern about the welfare of the children.

“I think this could have been handled in (a way) affording them a little bit of dignity and kind of having a positive influence in a difficult situation that has a far-reaching impact on their lives,” Jolibois said, according to a recording of the July 26 meeting.

Viafore said he was comfortable with the purchase because the city had planned to buy the property for nearly 20 years and that occurred when the owner said it was available.

‘The city is more than pleased to put it in its inventory,” he said.

The sale is scheduled to close Wednesday. Rosenbladt said the city will demolish the home and seed the lot with grass.

The city has approached the owner of the second house it has long targeted, but the owner is not interested in selling at this time.

Christian Hill: 253-274-7390
christian.hill@thenewstribune.com
Twitter: @TNTchill