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CLE abandoned mansion owner now facing arrest

Posted at 9:52 PM, Feb 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-26 22:25:08-05

The owner of the abandoned Levi Schofield mansion on Cleveland's east side is now facing an arrest warrant for the once prominent 7,000 square foot home.

According to city records the home was purchased by Rosalin Lyons of Cleveland three years ago.

Lyons was hoping to renovate the old mansion into a women's shelter, but has done very little to improve the property.

Cleveland Housing court has slapped the property with numerous code violations, and when Lyons failed to appear in court to answer to the charges, a warrant was issued for her arrest.

The property remains open, and several attempts to keep the home boarded-up have failed.

Residents like Deanna Nelson who live near the Mapleside Avenue estate are tired of waiting for improvements.

"They are constantly coming through dumping, it's unsafe," said Nelson.  "You've got kids that are in the neighborhood that might be out playing, they go in there and the building could collapse."

newnet5.com asked property owner Rosalin Lyons what she plans to do next.

"I can't do nothing than more than what I'm doing," said Lyons. "If I can find some investors to help me do what I'm trying to do, then I guess that's how I'm trying to rectify it."

"Yes, of course I'm concerned.  I'm not trying to go to jail for something that I'm trying to do better. I'm not trying to teardown the neighborhood."

newsnet5.com did a story back in Oct. 2015,and nothing has been improved at the the property over the past 5 months.

Cleveland's Department of Building and Housing is now considering a move to condemn the property.