Sunday, July 08, 2007

More On Foreclosure Eyesores

A Detroit Free Press article reports on the glut of empty houses - both for sale and foreclosed - unkempt properties can be widely found that are decreasing everyone's property value. For more, see Unsold properties create neighborhood eyesores.

USA Today recently ran a story on the mosquito problem in parts of Arizona, Southern Nevada, and California due to the untended pools of vacant and abandoned homes. See Vacant pools leave neighbors swimming in mosquitoes.

Concerned that high grass attracts rats and snakes from the river, the borough council in Scottdale, Pennsylvania has recently passed a "tall grass" ordinance that can result in a $600 fine per offense and as long as 90 days in jail for violators, according to the Connellsville Daily Courier. Reportedly, the borough has spent much time with problem properties owned by banks and other lenders. See Scottdale adopts high grass ordinance.

In Binghampton, New York, the Press & Sun-Bulletin reports on the plight of one area homeowner who has been pressuring local code enforcement for ten years to force her neighbors living next door to clean up their home. The home is described as a hodgepodge of cracked paneling, broken windows and faded paint. Asphalt roofing shingles are multicolored and mismatched. And trash is strewn throughout the yard. While the neighbors have since lost their home to the city in a tax foreclosure sale, the homeowner is still waiting for the cleanup. See 10 years later, woman still waits for cleanup of adjoining property.