Just days after the Greenfield Police Department arrested Larry Howard for allegedly operating a drug house, the Greenfield Health Department deemed the living space unfit for human habitation.

Officials from the health department placarded the upper unit of 4025 W. Loomis Rd. on Jan. 27. One week earlier, at the request of the police department, Health Department officials inspected the site and found the residence to be in violation of several city codes.

According to Darren Rausch, the city's health director, the unit had cat feces everywhere and a litter box nearly overflowing; the kitchen and bedroom areas were full of clutter; and there was rotting and decaying food throughout the house. Rausch said he did not witness any vermin, but the conditions were appropriate for mice and other critters.

“The public health issue with this unit is specifically related to the current conditions of the unit,” Rausch said in an email to Patch. “In situations like these, particularly in rental units, we are concerned with health and safety of the primary tenant as well as any other tenants that live in the building.”

Rausch said the city typically receives two or three similar complaints each year. This residence, however, is unique in that a suspected drug dealer and felon was the occupant.

According to the criminal complaint, Greenfield police received an anonymous complaint Jan. 9 from someone alleging Howard was selling drugs out of his rental property in the 4000 block of West Loomis Road. Police surveyed Howard’s house until he left, and then pulled him over for a vehicle registration violation. Later, while conducting a search warrant of the property, police personnel found the residence was in bad living condition, according to Chief Brad Wentlandt.

Greenfield police accompanied health department employees during the inspection Jan. 19, and when the residence was placarded last week, “to assure the safety of my staff, particularly in light of the alleged criminal activity that occurred at the residence,” Rausch said.

Rausch said the unit will remain placarded until the health hazard no longer exists and written approval is provided by his department. A re-inspection of the residence will be required. Rausch sent property owner Brad Rozanski a letter Jan. 26 informing Rozanski of the code violations. The letter also informed Rozanski he has until Feb. 29 to clean up the residence or be subject to corrective legal action.

Rozanski did not immediately respond to a message left by Greenfield Patch.

The house sits on a 1.7-acre lot along with Cycle Empire Motorcycle Supplies. That building was constructed in stages between 1929-94, according to Greenfield’s Community Development Manager Chuck Erickson. The house was built in 1935.

Over time, larger building has been used as a leather goods store, motorcycle repair and parts shop, storage for a masonry repair business and a pickle factory.

The property sits just north of the I-894 Loomis Road on/off ramps and near the spot of a vacant house fire that was set by arsonists over the summer.