District Judge Jim Motznik today fined developer Craig Cozza $8,000, the maximum for eight property violations at a site on Grandview Avenue that he has failed to develop since excavating for a condo project in 2003.

Several residents from Mount Washington showed up to testify.

"I do believe it has become a public nuisance," said Mr. Motznik before finding Mr. Cozza guilty on all counts, which ranged from weeds and rubbish to the excavation being steeper than code allows.

Mr. Cozza said that, were it not for a court challenge that held up the project for five or six years, "this project would have been done."

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