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Got a neighbor problem, need advice.

Started by TheArtist, February 05, 2009, 04:58:18 PM

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TheArtist

February 05, 2009, 04:58:18 PM Last Edit: February 05, 2009, 05:00:30 PM by TheArtist
Few months ago we got some new neighbors on my street. There were 2 empty houses owned by some guy that I think had them left to him by his parents. He finally cleaned them up and sold them. We neighbors often had to go and pick up fallen limbs, mow, etc. Now one house looks excellent. The other.... I am getting worried about.

The owner, I believe they bought the house anyway, has a large red towtruck. Its a very nice new one lol. But take today for instance. As I was pulling up in my driveway I noticed 2 cars in their driveway with the hoods up, one perhaps on jacks. There is often one in the garage being worked on, didnt drive by to see today. The towtruck out front, a car behind that and to the left of the driveway a beat up car without a hood and the hood leaning against the house.  

Now believe it or not, thats not what I care about. Dont like it, but we are all working class people in this neighborhood and I am not about to begrudge the guy a livelihood or whatever is going on there lol. I can tell they probably dont have a lot of money, and it appears they do have a few kids.

What is really bothering me though is all the other stuff that is constantly out lying around in the yard, leaning against the house, in the driveway. There is almost always something in the yard. A huge log (that apparently the trash men arent going to pick up and rightly so) and a large plastic container bin, plus other assorted and sundry things next to the house. In the driveway is a large raggedy looking lounge chair, another small chair, trash cans, some boxes, and various other items. A large white box fan leaning against the side with other things. I keep thinking they will put them in the garbage or take them away. But it appears more stuff keeps joining whats there lol. So add to all of that the various and sundry broken cars and trucks... and its starting to look like the cliche redneck in Arkansas thing.

I have worked long years to get my little house here and dont want something like this to "bring down my property values" to put it bluntly. This neighborhood is a decent one. Bout half or more of the houses have immaculate yards. Some, like mine lol, are so so and I try to improve things a little bit as I can afford it each year. This neighborhood is kind of tricky as it is being where it is by the mall, the college and the highway. The mall is very well kept, shopping centers have been redone, the streets are very well kept, the new college is definitely a plus, many of the houses are quite well kept up. But the average person would still wonder about the area and seeing what is a couple houses down from me now really worries me that it could start a bad decline. I would like the neighborhood to get better not worse. And one really loudly bad looking house on a small street like this. Is not good.

Any suggestions or advice?

I thought of getting a large dumpster. I need to get rid of some leftover remodeling stuff myself. Last time I did that the neighbors asked if they could put some stuff in it they had and I said sure. Perhaps I could go ahead and get that and "suggest" to these new neighbors that they could use it lol. But now I am starting to worry that the reason they have that furniture in the driveway is to actually sit on and use while working on the cars.

"When you only have two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other."-Chinese proverb. "Arts a staple. Like bread or wine or a warm coat in winter. Those who think it is a luxury have only a fragment of a mind. Mans spirit grows hungry for art in the same way h

Breadburner

#1
February 05, 2009, 05:01:47 PM
Contact Code Enforcement...
 

sgrizzle

#2
February 05, 2009, 05:21:50 PM
I would do the dumpster AND call code enforcement. That way they think your not the one who turned them in

TheArtist

#3
February 05, 2009, 05:35:53 PM Last Edit: February 05, 2009, 05:36:48 PM by TheArtist
I keep trying to figure out some way to approach the person. Something to say to them that would be diplomatic and nice, and still get the point across without me looking like a busy body jerk.

And to, the guy has a family to feed. I dont want him to not be able to do that by forcing him to not bring the cars and such. I dont mind a few cars being there on occasion "though today was more than usual and hope that doesnt keep on" as much as just the yard and driveway being a mess with lots of junk out all the time. If he kept everything clean and tidy. Not a problem I would make any fuss about. As it is, even if there were no cars there it would look really bad.



"When you only have two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other."-Chinese proverb. "Arts a staple. Like bread or wine or a warm coat in winter. Those who think it is a luxury have only a fragment of a mind. Mans spirit grows hungry for art in the same way h

Miss Solemnis

#4
February 05, 2009, 05:38:56 PM
I don't suppose your neighborhood association would spring for the dumpster, would it?  When we lived in Florence Park South, a couple of times a year the neighborhood association would have dumpsters brought in for residents to use.  Really handy and really kept things cleaned up and looking nice.
 

DolfanBob

#5
February 05, 2009, 05:49:39 PM
I think that it runs in the wrecker driver mentality and or blood.
I live next door to a Al Story wrecker driver and pretty much the same scene at his place. 3 kids, random cars out front out back and never kept around for to long.
He is a great guy and both his property and our's are a acre and a quarter so its not as bad as what you are probably dealing with.
From what I have found out thru a few beers and conversation with him and the rest of his immediate family ie. brothers,cousins etc.
He basically is getting them dirt cheap and taking them to be crushed.
So you might want to talk with him over a couple of cold ones and just kind of feel out his situation.
Changing opinions one mistake at a time.

sgrizzle

#6
February 05, 2009, 07:30:17 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Miss Solemnis

I don't suppose your neighborhood association would spring for the dumpster, would it?  When we lived in Florence Park South, a couple of times a year the neighborhood association would have dumpsters brought in for residents to use.  Really handy and really kept things cleaned up and looking nice.


He likely doesn't have one.

Breadburner

#7
February 05, 2009, 08:21:19 PM
How bout a polite anonymous letter....
 

TheArtist

#8
February 05, 2009, 08:31:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Breadburner

How bout a polite anonymous letter....


Aaah, a simple obvious idea I hadn't thought of. Thanks. Will mull it over.

"When you only have two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other."-Chinese proverb. "Arts a staple. Like bread or wine or a warm coat in winter. Those who think it is a luxury have only a fragment of a mind. Mans spirit grows hungry for art in the same way h

nathanm

#9
February 05, 2009, 08:31:45 PM
quote:
Originally posted by inteller

unless he has a variance, he can't operate an auto repair operation in a residential neighborhood.  call code enforcement to start fining him until he cleans up the wreck.

I would be far more concerned with the **** in the yard than the cars under repair.

One is trash, the other is productive.
"Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration" --Abraham Lincoln

waterboy

#10
February 05, 2009, 08:51:28 PM
Don't write the letter Artist. One was mailed to someone in our neighborhood once about trash cans being left on the curb. The people took offense and everyone was suspect of having sent it. Turns out it was a crank who hardly anyone knew. The family was going through a tough time and the letter was very embarrassing for them.

Are they teenage kids working on the cars? Your neighborhood sounds like various social classes. Tough call. I would simply relate to them that some people have been visited by code enforcement for leaving unattended cars and furniture laying around. After I offered him a beer.

sgrizzle

#11
February 05, 2009, 09:44:43 PM
quote:
Originally posted by inteller

unless he has a variance, he can't operate an auto repair operation in a residential neighborhood.  call code enforcement to start fining him until he cleans up the wreck.


That's a big assumption that is a business and not just working on personal and friend's vehicles. I have a neighbor who has 5 cars for 2 drivers and the hoods are up every weekend.

nathanm

#12
February 05, 2009, 10:36:10 PM
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle


That's a big assumption that is a business and not just working on personal and friend's vehicles. I have a neighbor who has 5 cars for 2 drivers and the hoods are up every weekend.

And here I thought I was being excessive for having 3 cars for 2 people. :p
"Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration" --Abraham Lincoln

Conan71

#13
February 05, 2009, 10:51:46 PM
A friend of mine is known colloquially as "the mayor of Crosbie Heights" for a reason.

He moved there when it was the worst of biker trash in the early '90's.  He's pretty much scooter trash himself, just a little better class of it. [;)]

He would call and complain to the Mayor's action line and code enforcement.  Broken lawn mower on the porch?  Expired tag and flat tires on that Ford Escort in the street?  Little Jane Ann has learned to walk the street at 14?  Yup, there was a call to one division of the city or another.  It's taken 15 years (not saying it's all due to him) but enough people calling have kept the cops and code enforcement in the area and it's evolving.

IOW-  Look, some of the ideas here are pretty sensitive to being a good neighbor, but don't feel guilty about calling code enforcement.  Unless you are the only two houses on the street, he will never know who called him in.  Do it for yourself, not him.


"It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first" -Ronald Reagan

godboko71

#14
February 05, 2009, 11:28:29 PM
Before you go calling the action line, at least take the time to talk to them, they are new to the area, sometimes it just takes someone being nice to remind them to take better care of there yard.

After a few takes mention your getting a dumpster and you would be more then willing to let them (or anyone) put some of there larger items in it.

If being a good neighbor doesn't work, then call the action line.
Thank you,
Robert Town
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