Crumbling Lake County home faces scrutiny

Lake County officials are readying an ultimatum for the owner of a vacant, crumbling house near Lincolnshire that's been the target of vandals.

Their message to the owner of the house at 16160 Port Clinton Road is simple: Fix the house or tear it down, or we may sue and raze it.

Phil Rovang, director of the county's planning, building and development department, doesn't expect the county will have to take such drastic measures, however.

"This is … one of our ways of getting attention," Rovang said. "Very rarely does the county have to step in and demolish the building."

Lincolnshire resident Robert Blumenthal, who owns the property but doesn't live there, said he's fixing up the house and believes it's no longer dangerous.

"I don't want to be an eyesore in the neighborhood," Blumenthal said Wednesday.

The county board will decide next week whether to allow the state's attorney's office to pursue legal action against Blumenthal.

The cottage-style house, which is in unincorporated Vernon Township, has been the source of neighborhood controversy for several months. In April, an unknown vandal spray painted the phrase "eco death" on the front of the house.

The message -- now faded but still visible -- likely was prompted by the removal of dozens of trees on the grounds. Unsightly piles of tree stumps, branches and other debris still mar the property.

Threatening, unsigned letters with environmental themes were sent to the house and to a neighbor's home, too.

Blumenthal bought the house last year. In April, he told the Daily Herald he planned to raze the structure and build a new house, but that hasn't happened.

On Wednesday, he said he still plans to knock down the house but is improving it simply to meet county building codes. A damaged porch has been removed, he said, and the kitchen has been fixed up.

He said he's also moved some of the tree debris out of a flood plain, which was a concern of the county's.

"I'm doing my best to get it cleared out," Blumenthal said.

Regardless, the planning department has given its file on the house to the state's attorney's office, which has written to Blumenthal about the matter.

If Blumenthal doesn't appropriately improve or bulldoze the house himself, prosecutors could file a lawsuit and order the structure's demolition, said Special Assistant State's Attorney Jim Bakk, who's handling the case.

That usually isn't necessary, however, Rovang said. Of the 15 or so cases county officials pursue every year, only one results in court-ordered demolition, he said.

"Once the owners get a letter from the state's attorney's office, they tend to take action," Rovang said.

The Port Clinton house isn't the only property in the county's sights. Action also is being considered against the owners of vacant homes in Lake Villa, Lake Forest and Ingleside, according to county documents.

The county board is expected to vote on the cases Tuesday during its regular meeting in Waukegan.