By Erin Beck
Staff Writer
The City of Shinnston plans to sue NAJ, LLC, the owner of a neglected property on Charles Street in Shinnston.
City Manager Chad Edwards said, during the City Council meeting Feb. 14, that the city planned to file a lawsuit over the eyesore. He said NAJ, a Charleston-based real estate holdings business, owns the Charles Street home.
“It burned down a year ago, and of course, because this is a property that they had no intentions of doing anything with, they don’t have insurance on it, so now we have a house that’s burnt,” he said.
The house’s roof is caved in, and both the roof and sides of the house have large holes. Edwards noted the blighted property is the first sight greeting people who enter from Saltwell Road.
“So, we pressured them to do something about it and they won’t,” he said. “So now we’re going to have to sue them.”
He said the Charleston lawyers who own the company have ignored complaints from the city and its attorney, Trey Simmerman.
Roberts Johns, of NAJ, LLC, did not return a phone call left at his Charleston law office.
NAJ has been sued at least several times after purchasing other properties, according to the WV Record.
Edwards referred further questions to City Attorney Trey Simmerman, who did not return a phone call.
