All rights reserved. When he called my dad to get counsel on his latest court appearance, the advice was the same.His "heirs"? I don’t doubt that the conditions of those houses were poor in many cases. I’ll admit that I never visited one. Our family aches for those who do not have adequate housing, who had any hardship because of the houses they lived in that my uncle was responsible for. He dealt with addiction – giving up alcohol when it almost killed him, replacing it with sweets and candy, and I think, with houses.
Upon moving in, the sliding glass door in the living room was not installed properly and therefore, did not lock. He could certainly have done better, and there is opportunity now to make improvements, and change those homes for the better.But please know, before you judge someone, especially after their passing, that there is more to the story than what makes the headline. The city had taken the 67-year-old to court at least 20 times for failing to keep his rental properties up to code.Oeth’s funeral is next Friday. She could not be reached this week for comment.According to Polk County, Oeth owned 231 properties as of this month. My uncle was a lot more than the 'worst slumlord' in Des Moines. 1600 East Army Post Road Des Moines, IA 50320-1812. Yes, he owned entirely too many houses. All rights reserved.
Of those, 108 were in below normal, poor or very poor condition.SuAnn Donovan, who oversees the city’s rental inspections, said she hopes his heirs will take action to sell his worst properties so they can be repaired and renovated.© 2020 www.desmoinesregister.com.
The Biggest Slum Lord in Des Moines I would advise never to rent from or do any type of business with this company. He is survived by his wife, Patti. One of Des Moines' more notorious slumlords died unexpectedly this month.In 2017, Gary Oeth was the subject of several Reader's Watchdog stories after tenants and neighbors raised concerns about the poor condition of many of his properties.County assessor records showed at the time he owned more properties in below normal, poor or very poor condition — 97 — than any other property owner in Polk County. I know I will carry that more deeply with me now. Gary Oeth had a slow, but sharp wit, though he would never try to hurt anyone. He talked about “trying to help them get on their feet” and was always trying to hire people to help him, many of them his own renters, although it was not enough. He has my dad, aunts, uncles, and us nieces and nephews. Get Directions. was his underestimating of what was needed to keep the houses going. The official website for the City of Des Moines, serving more than 217,000 residents and 51 neighborhoods in Iowa's capital city.
Jessica Schuttler. Iowa View contributor. When I moved in, I signed a 6 month lease. He was a man who drove used cars, wore old clothes and never spent lavishly.He died this month in a rocking chair, watching TV alone on the Fourth of July.We've not yet had his funeral, yet we've been subject to the blazing comments of those who would be quick to judge a man whose life is not theirs. I remember so many spring afternoons that my dad, a lawyer, spent with him, trying to reconcile the ridiculous number of purchases, mortgages, etc., that had occurred in the last year, and pull together all that was needed to properly file his taxes before April 15. © 2020 www.desmoinesregister.com. Perhaps he could relate to the idea of making your way back in a difficult time. Des Moines - Army Post; Des Moines - Army Post Back to Results. Any of his brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews cannot tell you a time he spent with us that his phone did not ring, and that he did not get up to answer it. One of his failures (don’t we all have them?)