The city of Dover has reached an agreement to finally tear down the scorched remains of a house that has been a neighborhood hazard since the man who lived there set it on fire almost two years ago.
The settlement agreement with the owners promises about $21,000 to the city to demolish what’s left of the structure at 1409 East Second Street. It will also close a lawsuit filed by the city against the owners back in September.
City-hired attorney and former state rep Brett Hillyer said it was a complicated situation involving the owners, insurance company and the bank that has filed a foreclosure complaint on the property. Officials were happy to resolve the issue.
The house was mostly destroyed and rendered uninhabitable in a fire on May 25th, 2024. Nobody was hurt.
The State Fire Marshall’s report says it was intentionally set with evidence implicating the homeowner. However, the Tuscarawas County Prosecutor’s Office declined to prosecute the case based on the owner’s declining health.
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