Since January, Slavic Village, one of the country’s worst hit neighborhoods by foreclosures, has seen about 20 of its vacant homes set ablaze. City Councilman Tony Brancatelli, who represents the ward, says this is a new problem.
BRANCATELLI: Though we’ve had a vacancy rate for the past few years that’s been pretty high, we haven’t had the significant problems we’ve had with arson so it’s a pretty recent phenomenon this year.
Citywide, the Cleveland fire department reports there have been 64 such arsons—ten more than this time last year. Someone burned down a home off Clark Avenue just last weekend. There appear to be no obvious similarities between the fires that would point to a single culprit. Some happen at night, others in broad daylight. Councilman Brancatelli doesn’t know why arsonists are targeting these homes. But he says the reaction among his constituents is mixed
BRANCATELLI: It’s run the gamut from some who say, “well I guess this will get the house torn down now,” to others who are really concerned about what’s going on next to them and around their families. And though these haven’t been around dense, occupied houses, they are in neighborhoods-- old woodframe neighborhoods, and people are very concerned about it.
The Cleveland fire department doesn’t have data for vacant house fires before 2007. A spokesman says it’s a problem affecting urban areas around the country, and the department is working with other authorities to help thwart future fires.