As you know, I have been after the city for almost 20 years to take out this property. Finally saw some progress when they tore down the recycling center, the liquor store and a gutted house. I fully expected them to tear down the other two properties (abandoned houses) but they gave the property owner another chance to make amends, as you can see, it was a bad idea.
Instead of replacing the basement windows, he put concrete block in the sills, then he decided to paint the house without fixing the soffit or siding and it has sat like this for a couple of weeks. There is also old tractors parked in the backyard and the privacy fence has fallen over. And while he may eventually get the house to look better on the outside, the inside is totally destroyed with massive water and fire damage. In other words it would take a lot of $$$ to fix the interior, so basically the city is allowing a property owner to fix the exterior of a house when the inside remains unlivable. WHY!!!!!!!?????? Incompetence.
I know that the due dates for having the repairs completed passed this Spring, so I was surprised the city is NOT tearing down the properties. Funny how it took me 20 years, and only half was torn down, yet when a religious non-profit needs some demo or an old Sears building needs toppled the city has all kinds of money in public works to demo these buildings almost immediately. Crappy houses in low income neighborhoods are apparently not a priority.
Keep playing games, because when the new mayor is installed I will be in their face to bulldoze this property. You solved nothing in 20 years except kick a can down the road. Those houses will be demolished and I will make sure of it.
Where’s the sidewalk?
City Home Rule is unconstitutional. Not only can they not win in court but they pee their pants when someone sues them. However, from experience, I envy this citizen. It’s fun playing with incompetent city representatives. They work at the city because they can’t make it in private life.
There are local non-profits and regional housing consortiums itching to find property to rehabilitate in our core neighborhoods. The city at long last needs to step it up and prioritize working with affordable housing partners like Habitat for Humanity to revitalize these neglected properties and, in turn, entire core neighborhoods.
Oh, but it gets better, I would agree with Dan, protect your property, but what makes me laugh is they have been playing the city for 20 years, with extensions, etc. I can about imagine the hilarious convos they have about how they have suckered the city for so long.
MMM- Yes. Yes. Yes! This property sits on a main thoroughfare, it is perfect for affordable apartments, and here is the kicker that the owner of the property doesn’t understand, the property sits on an Opportunity Zone. He could lease the property to a landlord and rake in gobs of money in Federal tax breaks and incentives. I would think the city’s planning department would be encouraging this kind of benefit . . . nevermind. I get it, I am a cynic, but what I don’t understand is when a problem presents itself, and it is EASY to fix, why not fix it?
“Say, now, is this one of those houses that was influenced by Wright?”
Wait for the National Guard to show up. “Trump or Treat” for the city council.
I believe it’s the federal colonial bonnet roof design that makes it a Wright, like that other house near Huether’s home, or should I say Wrightville?