Outside the shuttered Squires apartments near the corner of Third and C streets in Old Town. Photos: Andrew Goff.

The City of Eureka continues to not mess around in its dealings with local slumlords Floyd and Betty Squires, announcing today that they are vacating tenants from several Squires-owned properties on Third Street across from The Shanty. This is the third Squires complex the city has acted on in as many weeks, after the demolitions of the Blue Heron Motel on Broadway and a vacant, fire-damaged home on H Street. 

More in the City of Eureka press release below: 

 

In response to numerous complaints from neighboring businesses, the City of Eureka has vacated and boarded 216, 218 and 220 Third Street owned by Floyd and Betty Squires. The closure was necessary due to unsafe and unsanitary conditions which pose a significant and immediate threat to public health and safety. A warrant for the closure was issued by the Superior Court on September 6th, 2017. The hazardous conditions include numerous violations of the California Building Code and Health and Safety Code, as well as violations of the Fire Code and Eureka Municipal Code. Conditions include large quantities of used hypodermic needles, feces, broken windows, hazardous wiring and plumbing, infestations of cockroaches and general dilapidation and improper maintenance. The squalid condition of the property has led to it becoming a haven for drug dealers and addicts with EPD making multiple arrests recently for heroin and other drugs.

The City does not undertake these actions lightly and does so only after providing the Squires with every opportunity to remedy the violations voluntarily. The tenants of the buildings will be provided relocation funding by the City to assist in establishing suitable housing. The City will continue to utilize legal remedies to reduce or remove blighted properties throughout the community.