Smelly house irks Iowa City neighbors

Neighbors are unhappy the city doesn't plan until April to demolish a house they say is stinking up the area.

The home is at 700 Eastmoor Dr. in the Parkview Terrace neighborhood, one of the hardest hit areas during the 2008 flood.

“It's a nasty smell,” said Mary Sturm of 800 Eastmoor Dr.

Deborah Sass of 709 Eastmoor Dr. described the smell that is coming from the house across the street from her home as “sewage.”

Sturm said the home definitely smells of mold.

City officials said they know the house has issues.

“It has not been cleaned up,” said Jeff Davidson, director of planning and community development for Iowa City. “It has not had the interior gutted.”

Davidson said the home's owner, Timothy Anding, left it as is after the 2008 flood and moved out of state.

The city is trying to finalize paperwork to buy the home and tear it down, but it will take a few more months, he said.

Sturm said that's not fast enough.

“Having mold spores in the air is not good,” said Sturm.