Search
NoMi Business Partners
The I.I. Blog Roll
The Goddess of Glass
Reliable Twin Cleaning
Followers
About Me
Subscribe To
Posts
Comments
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Get to Know Minneapolis Slumlord, Steven Meldahl
6:55 PM | 
Posted by
The I.I. |
This blog thread posted by the Irving Inquisition uses some explicit language, as well as depicting some aspects of life in North Minneapolis that some readers may find objectionable. Reader discretion is advised.
Get to Know Minneapolis Slumlord, Steven Meldahl
Before we get too far with Steven Meldahl it’s important to understand the criteria by which he is being judged.
slum·lord [slúm là wrd] (plural slum·lords)
noun Definition: owner of slum housing: somebody who owns housing in slum areas, especially a neglectful landlord who overcharges tenants
[Mid-20th century.
noun Definition: owner of slum housing: somebody who owns housing in slum areas, especially a neglectful landlord who overcharges tenants
[Mid-20th century.
- encarta.msn.com
 |
| Burned out wreck - 1511 22nd Avenue North, Minneapolis MN 55411 |
This is 1511 22nd Avenue North. If you’ve read this blog before then you know that it is one of the themes that has propelled this blog into action. This property has been sitting there; empty, for the past six year, maybe even longer. It’s symbolic of urban decay, and its owner has literally done absolutely nothing to make this property habitable again.
If Meldahl could ignore the responsibilities of home ownership with one house, what would it look like to a larger scale? I asked myself that question and searched the internet and found what I was looking for on the public database. Of the known 80 properties Meldahl owns, he challenged the assessed taxable value of 79 of them last year. This data made its way to the 2009 Applications Heard by the Minneapolis Board of Appeal and Equalization spreadsheet, which is by law, out in the public domain. I gained access of this information via another enterprising NoMi resident who found the spreadsheet on the web. When I saw Medahl’s name appear line after line on the spreadsheet, I knew this was worth taking a closer look. Click on the spreadsheet image below to open it, and then zoom in.
The results of my research reveal a financial atrocity. Negligence, tax evasion, and business miss-management at a scale that’s difficult to grasp. See the spreadsheet above; you can see granular details of each of Meldahl’s properties. For the fiscal year 2010, Meldahl has a property tax liability—that’s just the properties I know of that are in Hennepin country, there’s probably more somewhere out there—of $150,850.66. At this point in time he should owe $0. The due date for the second half of this year’s property taxes was due on October 15th. As things stand right now, Meldahl owes $109,207.87 principle balance of this year’s tax liability; that’s about 72% of the balance that remains outstanding. Of Meldahl’s 80 properties—that I know of—in Hennepin County, Meldahl owes back property taxes on 73 of them. That means that he owes back taxes on 9 out of every 10 properties he owns; incredible.
What about the community side of things? Actually, this is just as bad. Meldahl’s properties have a combined total of 46 confirmed assessments, totaling to about $65,000 in fines from the city of Minneapolis for 2010 alone! Yes, that’s just 2010! There’s more. A lot of the assessments are fines for unpaid assessments from 2009, and that’s a large number as well. The large fines in the thousands are typically boarded up property fees, and vacant dwelling fines. Naturally, this could be resolved if Meldahl bothered to fix his junk shacks and rented the properties out to anybody that isn’t a thug.
Meldahl is so irresponsible that he’s behind on property taxes for the house he lives in. Oh yes, here’s the half million dollar home in Edina, 7409 Hyde Park Drive. I like the cute little red sports car parked in the drive way. I’d like to take a minute to thank Google Map’s Street View for helping illustrate the lifestyle of this crook.
 |
| Steven F. Meldahl's $495,000 house in Edina |
The entire time I’ve lived in NoMi, 1511 22nd Avenue North has been the nasty, empty, burned out wreck that it is today. Meldahl has done absolutely nothing to bring this place back or have it demolished. Upon closer inspection of how the man conducts business the public documents paint a sobering and clear picture; he treats all of his rental property this way. Steven Meldahl is right up there with Paul Koenig; he’s a cancer to North and South Minneapolis. Like most cancer tumors, this one needs to be removed and treated with chemo therapy.
311 complaints have helped to facilitate some hefty fines on a few properties, but now that we know the extent in which the county, the city, and our communities are being abused by this man; it is now clear that we need to take legal action against Steven Meldahl.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Share The I.I.
There was an error in this gadget
21 comments:
Let's emphasize a few things here: first off, these are only the properties in Minneapolis THAT WE KNOW OF. Since, unlike superior search engines in Superior, WI, we cannot search property ownership with the owner as a criteria, we have no way of knowing if this list is anywhere near complete.
With that in mind, anyone who can tell us other Meldahl properties that aren't mentioned here can do so anonymously. Or tell us your experience in or near a Meldahl house.
I sense a photo tour coming up soon...
And if the properties are in a state of disrepair that we've come to expect when they're mismanaged to such a degree, then it's time to ask our friends at the city some hard questions about why this is allowed to happen.
How the eFF has this guy not been dealt with by our city inspections, or problem properties? And I don't mean fines, I mean yank his rental licenses. Levy against his home in Edina, pull that little red sports car, anything. I agree with HH, we are getting to where with these dirt balls. It's time to start holding the City accountable!
It's scumlords like this who have destroyed the property values in our community.
The scumlord who owned the rental property next to me also owned 9 other rentals in NOMI and got top dollar -- $1800 of them, to be exact. She told me! She rented to section 8, she told me, because she could count on getting rent payments. Clearly her only concern cuz the house next to me was trashed after years of lousy tenants who cranked the heat and opened the windows, dumped their trash in the yard, left the water running when they moved and left the double driveway literally 8 feet deep in their belongings and trash.
She also told me that she was underwater on these properties. Clearly, she borrowed against those mortgages and used the equity for .... well, not repairing the houses but to BUY HERSELF A SPIFFY WHITE CADILLAC ESCALADE!
Then you know what she did? She got a job in Florida and let all these houses go back to the bank. And the last time I checked her half a million dollar house in Chaska was on the market ... probably lost to foreclosure as well.
It sickens me. I can't say anything more without using the f-bomb every other word.
Scum bags!
These posts are great and really highlight the impact that loose government oversight on absentee landlords is having on our inner city neighborhoods during these hard economic times.
Time and time again we see investors callously using our community to extract financial gain with no regard for the homeowners and residents that live here. These issues are well known and understood by anyone who lives in our community. But public humiliation alone is a fart in the wind if we can't get the attention of our community leaders and lawmakers.
Looks like we need:
1. City Rental License review for absentee landlords detailing the number of properties, annual number of assessments against the landlord, the condition of each property.
2. More though inspections of property conditions before section 8 and public entitlement funds can be certified for rental payments.
3. Enforcement of public nuisance laws and a way of tying them into property assessments so they can be tracked for review.
What can we do as a group to draw attention to these problems? How can we get the attention of our politicians to get some community relief?
Aren't our City Council representatives aware of these issues? Doesn't Don Samuels,Diane Hofstead, or any of the other City Council Members read these blogs or talk with their constituents?
How about these guys? Bobby Champion, Linda Higgins, Keith Ellison, Amy Klobuchar, or Al Franken What are they doing to assist? What can we do to communicate these problems to them?
Two words: Civil Lawsuit. I'm in.
Oh yeah - and let's hold a protest picket line at his Edina house - Email me at goodponyz @ yahoo if you want to join us and want to help recruit other protesters.
A little news camera action should light a fire under city, county and perhaps even Mr. Slumeldahl (pronounced slum-ell-doll, sounds like a bad pharmaceutical)
Not to mention some media exposure will help pull out victims of his slummy empire = more plaintiffs for the burgeoning civil suit.
NoMi Passenger,
That's the spirit! Also, if you happen to be near one Slumeldahl's rat traps (which is easy since he owns half of NoMi) could you take a few pictures for the up coming photo tour? I want to build as much awareness in as many venues as possible about how this crook is royally screwing us all over, and why he needs to be brought to justice.
Regards,
I.I.
I.I,
I'll study the list and see what's near, but I'll also volunteer to take a chunk of the list and do the photo collections to contribute to the upcoming photo tour. We'll keep in touch.
I.I.,
First, let me congratulate you on what I find to be a very informative blog.
Second, I want to help get these photos out too. As someone who is making their home in NoMi, I want the rest of the TC to see what we have endured and will no longer tolerate.
@ NoMi Passenger and mnraxie,
There's a lot of ground to cover. Let's go with your idea of breaking them down into chunks.
I'll go take photos of his properties on Humboldt, Irving, James, and Knox. Which ones do the two of you want to take?
Regards,
I.I.
Mnraxie, welcome to the revitalizer club, looking forward to meeting you in person. What's your name and where abouts do you live? - MeganG.
I'll take Queen, Russell, Thomas, Upton and Washburn.
Forgot one... NARCISSIST! A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (either in fantasy or actual behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy that begins by early adulthood and is present in a variety of situations and environments.
In order for a person to be diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) they must meet five or more of the following symptoms:
· Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
· Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
· Believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).
· Rarely acknowledges mistakes and/or imperfections
· Requires excessive admiration
· Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
· Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
· Lacks empathy: is unwilling or unable to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
· Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
· Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitude.
Steve Meldahl is an asshole! He scores a perfect 10! Keep up the great work! Soon everyone will know what he is really about!
You folks are wickedly misinformed- you dont have the whole story on the taxes or anytyhing else for that matter... I know Steve personally. He is not an asshole & he is certainly not a slumlord! It makes me sick to see this stuff posted. Of course if you dont know what is really going on its easy to bash someone & get others to go along with you.Its called the blame game! Blame someone else for everything you perceive is wrong- I would suggest you get your facts straight- ALL of them. If you are unable to do that, I would advise against slandering this good, honest man.
Over the years that I have known Steve he has taken many ratty places & turned them into lovely places to live- & he continues to do this. He is an asset to North, not a liability as you are suggesting.
What exactly are you trying to accomplish? If you want to change the face of North Minneapolis, you need to start on your own street- "what we have had to endure"??? EXCUSE ME? What have you done to improve North? Have you gotten out & helped a neighbor improve their yard? Have you helped a neighbor keep their home by advising them how? Have you purchased or adopted a vacant property to keep North tidy? No? I didnt think so. But you have time to drive around & take pictures of someone elses properties. I have lived in North for 13 years, yep thats right- 13 YEARS I have lived here, because I choose to.
You are certainly not being part of the solution here, you are part of the problem. Also seems to me that those that live in glass houses should not throw stones- If you are so concerened about OUR neighborhood- why not do something productive? Like help a neighbor with yard work, or adopt a vacant home & keep the yard up?
Maybe the reason that the "city inspectors arent doing their jobs" to your narrow line of vision is because they have the whole story & really know whats up with Steve?
Oh, & did you attend the tax hearing with Steve? Wait, you didnt know about that? No? How could you know when you dont have all the facts? I didnt see any of you there, I was there. The city owes Steve Money for overpayment of...PROPERTY TAX.
OOOPS! I think someone spoke out of turn...
I urge you to be part of the solution & look around you- what can you do to help the Northside? Bash a man that you really know nothing about? No, That is not the answer. Get off your butts & go help a neighbor! Do something productive- you'll feel better about it & will be able to see results immediately.. & its contageous! Do something positive & it has a real impact!
If you have an issue with one of his properties, why not write him a letter? He will respond- he does care about his places & how they are kept. He employs a full maintenence staff to care for them- wait... you didnt know that either did you? ALL the facts are needed before you attempt to bash someone- you are looking at this without knowing everything & its a shameful display of ignorance- I am ashamed of all of you.
Keep up with the bashing & nothing good will come of it- You dont have all the facts & you dont know the man, or what he is about.
I AM A NORTHSIDE RESIDENT & HOMEOWNER & I support Steve in all that he does.
@ fuhry4me,
I will answer all of your questions in another posting. I have so many responses to that load of crap you just said that there will be significant content.
-I.I.
I agree with Fuhry4me! I have rented my house from Meldahl at 3455 James Ave. N. for 11 years. He could get $400 more per month for rent but has kept his promise to never raise my rent as long as I pay on time and keep the house and yard nice. I raised my 2 kids here and will be here till I die. Cmon by and take pictures!!!
To you folks with your posts on October 19, we need to see the new pictures.. Are you people going to help us get this guy or not???
"Get this guy" sounds like threats.
When a group of people conspire to attack another in any manner, you have a crime of some sort brewing.
Well, others have already said in previous posts that "he is a crook and an asshole" and what do we do with crooks and assholes, we go get them and remove them or reform them. Which do we want to do here?
This bum has been putting his garbage in our garbage can! this is the second time it has happened. he comes into our yard and takes the can. fills it with loose garbage and runs off. one of his properties is across the alley from us and it is a garbage pit
What's the address? I keep getting trash dumped in my cans by a pick up truck, but I have not got the license number yet.
I live next to one of the rentals listed in your spreadsheet, and I can assure you...the owner has no interest in keeping it updated, or adhering to any rules the city has in place. I am interested in finding others who would stand up as home owners living near these rentals and file a class-action lawsuit against this person. We have so few rights, and as a home owner want to ensure my investment is secure for the long-term. I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure this property is shut down.
Post a Comment