South end mobile home park still is a mess; owner could face fines

By Maira Ansari - bio | email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A Louisville mobile home park remains a major eyesore for south end residents. Louisville Regency closed in July of 2009, leaving behind a total mess. The owner was supposed to have it cleaned up months ago but, city officials say he's failed to meet several deadlines.

The junk collection started to pile up soon after the mobile home park closed. Residents were given 30 days notice and told to move out after the owner, George Gradow of Colorado, couldn't get the property up to code.

Now, more than a year later, the property is still a mess. The trailers are now gone, but Louisville Regency is now filled with piles of debris, garbage, a boat, tires - even a bush with women's undergarments. City officials say the property has turned into a dump site.

Gradow's company hired Hedges Excavating to clean up the mess. But work hit a roadblock in March with the winter weather and claims the owner wasn't paying the contractor. Louisville Metro Code Enforcement extended the clean-up deadline, hoping to get compliance from the company. But deadline after deadline came and went.

The hold up on the clean up has residents fed up.

"It's getting frustrating," said Bart Matthews, who is not happy since his backyard view is the abandoned trailer park. "There is not a lot that somebody like myself can do."

Metro Code Enforcement Supervisor Dennis Martin says he has made repeated attempts to contact the Gradow, with no success. Martin says he's sending a letter to Gradow, giving him a final notice that he will face a $700 fine if the property isn't cleaned up within 15 days.

Martin adds that some progress has been made and says he has been in contact with the contractor.

"We have talked to the contractor, Don Hedges, who told us he has been paid by them [Gradow]," said Martin. "He's had some bad problems with his equipment. He's left his equipment out there, it's been damaged. Some stuff has been stolen, which has slowed him down, but they are making progress."

We did some digging and found out the owner's property problems don't end Louisville - Gradow is also under fire in Missouri as well. Our network affiliate, KOMU in Columbia, has been following troubles at Columbia Regency, which is also owned by Gradow.

Residents there say they were fed up with property neglect, including potholes, black mold, and high utility bills.

Martin says the city has been trying to work with the owner to avoid legal action because that would cost taxpayer dollars.

Although we tried several times, we were unable to reach Gradow for comment.