June 15, 2008 - a man was tearing the glass out of the sun room of the house on another vacant property in our neighborhood. When neighbors went to see what was happening, they were expected. (10 minutes into the job) "What took you so long?" Everyone had a good laugh. This house is a vacant building surrounded by a well-maintained landscape. Owner Hank Adams cuts the grass around the house, and plows the driveway in the winter. He's respectful of our neighborhood and we really appreciate that.June 13, 2008 - A neighbor went to the Code Enforcement Office to file a complaint about the neglected vacant building and debris-strewn premises, which is across from his home. He encountered the same angry defense of developer by the Code Enforcement Director that I encountered 18 months ago. Emails arrived later in the day from the Director of CE, in response to requests for information from the City Attorney and the Chairman of the Board of Health. She reported that very recently the developer/owner was given a Vacant Building Permit. A request has been submitted to obtain a copy of the permit application, and other paperwork, so we can review it for accuracy and know what the agreement with the city is. We have only requested such protections as the Municipal Code related to Vacant Buildings provides. Members of the Board of Health came out to the property today, and apparently the Director of CE and her husband (they live nearby) came to look at the premises also. I do not believe that they looked at the abandoned swimming pool, however, which is a major concern for me. Hopefully, the Board of Health person looked at the swimming pool.
June 12, 2008 - I took the developer's email reply to the City Attorney and asked about enforcement of the vacant building code. City Attorney Bergman guided me to the sections of code that cover vacant buildings, and I read there that everything we have asked for is covered by code and reasonable. Previously, Code Enforcement Office director had told her staff to tell me that the pool would be drained but there was no ordinance that addressed other concerns about neglect of premises in general.
June 3, 2008 - A neighbor called Planning and Zoning to ask what could be done about mowing the green strip along Appletree Point Road that developer neglects. P&Z planner Lerner agreed to give developer friendly encouragement. Message on file. Developer's reply, also on file, contains many inaccuracies.
June 2, 2008 - back sliding door of farmhouse wide open in middle of day. Someone may have been in the house and left hurriedly. I closed the door, and called the police, asking them to check the house and contact the owner.
May 30, 31?, 2008 - Neighbor saw people walking around Hank Adams' property, interested in the abandoned house there. They said that Habitat for Humanity had been offered the house for rehab because the owner could no longer take care of it, that their son was going to be living there, and that he had already been working there at night. We contacted Planning and CEDO housing to confirm, and they confirmed that there was interest on the part of Habitat. They contacted the owner Hank Adams, and No Tresspassing signs were posted on the property immediately thereafter.
