Got a neighbor problem, need advice.

[OurTulsa]

If you call Code Enforcement use a friends name (with their permission - the system is completely anonymous) and find a reason to report yourself for something you can easily take care of (leave your trashcan out front for an extended time), report some of your neighbors around him for silly (easily addressable) things, and him as well.  That way you can all be pissed at the man but at the same time things get cleaned up.
Just know that if you call on him for the debris the Inspector will in all liklihood get him for having inoperable vehicles in the driveway or having an illegal home occupation or something related to the excessive cars.

If you don't want to infringe on the guys illegal home occupation then band your neighborhood together to have a clean up day with a dumpster.

[BierGarten]

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.

I was under the impression that you could schedule the city to do a "neighborhood" dumpster for free.  Perhaps there is a fee tied to it.  In any event, more neighborhood associations should do this.  It is a wonderful idea.

[Michael71]

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.

You can call the Mayor's Action(less) Hotline & schedule a neighborhood dumpster once every year or two.  It is a neighborhood dumpster though...so anyone can use it.

[Cats Cats Cats]

Watch Lakeview Terrace with Samuel L Jackson.  That should give you some ideas.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947802/

[cannon_fodder]

Please talk to your neighbors before calling code enforcement.  If you want to avoid conflict say "some of the neighbors were talking about calling the city, so I thought I should say something to you."  Give him a chance to do it himself first.  When the city gets called, it can seem insulting.

Perhaps he is from the sticks and really doesn't realize what a proper neighborhood expects.  Or maybe it doesn't give a crap and the city will need to be called.  But I'd give him a chance.

[TeeDub]

I second the talking to him before calling enforcement.

It will give you a good chance to get to know your neighbor.  (And you never know when you might need some car repairs, a telephone to borrow, or someone to keep an eye on your house when you go on vacation.

It is a sad day when we feel more comfortable having the gov't intervene in simple matters than we do reaching across the fence and having a simple chat.

[sauerkraut]

I't hard for me to comment on this because I'm normally the guy with the mess. I like to tinker with cars and I have left parts laying around- I guess all ya can do is call code enforcement, However, if you talk to him first I'd talk to him in a "3rd party kind of way" Say something like "some of the people and neighbors around here are worried about the stuff laying around and attracting rats" or words to that effect. It could be worse the guy could be playing house rattling loud music at all hours of the day & nite..

[Radar]

I agree, talk to him, but lay it off on somebody else.  Be prepared for him to ask who these people are.  Have a good response ready, don't just point to his neighbor's house.

The letter is a good idea too.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

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.

Quite possible, or he has an association like mine that is no more than a social club and refuses to get involved in code matters.

The Artist's situation is nearly identical to many houses in my own neighborhood, and I have reported repeat violators to code enforcement many, many times.  I always use the online reporting at cityoftulsa.org and sometimes it takes 3-4 or more reports over a period of months to get action, but it usually solves the problems.  The house across the street from me is just like Artist's problem, and after years of code reporting, the problem only abated when the people moved out about 6 months ago.  It now sits cold and dark, and I am hoping it goes into foreclosure and maybe the repossessor will clean the dump up.

I have done the anonymous letter thing several times in the past, but only after code enforcement reporting has not worked.  Who cares if the violators are embarrassed?  It is their own fault.  Whatever works, works.

In my 22 years of dealing with this, I find the most important, effective thing is persistance.  Keep reporting, sending letters, whatever works until the problem is solved.  I reached the point a long time ago that I don't care anymore if the violators know I am doing the complaining; an attractive, safe neighborhood and protecting my investment is more important than whatever they may think about me.

[Hometown]

My, my I do have some incredible stories from my days as Condo Association President in Oakland.

Whenever I see a nice neighborhood I know there is at least one harda** in the neighborhood busting the chops of low lifes.

Artist, You have already shown this guy more consideration than he has shown your whole neighborhood.

I would begin keeping a written diary record of this guy's transgressions.  It's a pain in the a** but it the kind of the thing the judge will understand when you are standing in front of him.  Pictures would be invaluable too.  Both will bolster your case.

Do what you can to shield your identity because this could easily turn into a life or death kind of situation.  I had a screaming, naked, crack addicted prostitute marching back and forth on the terrace in front of my penthouse as a result of a similar situation.

But I also had the satisfaction of seeing her hog tied on the sidewalk before the cops hauled her off.

You wouldn't believe what transpired before and after that.

Good luck.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

Whenever I see a nice neighborhood I know there is at least one harda** in the neighborhood busting the chops of low lifes.

I suppose I have that reputation among many of my neighbors.  Some applaud me, some call me Gladys Kravits; I frankly don't care what any of them think anymore.  I just got sick and tired of watching the block deteriorate because of slovenly occupants and continue to do everything I legally can to reverse the trend.

I too have seen quite a bit over the years Hometown, from common violations like trashy properties and cars continuously parked on front yards, to drug sellers running a big drug house directly next door.  Fights at all hours, broken windows, blood spilt, the horror list grows.  But the problems seemed to have much improved over the past 3-4 years, and I would like to think I have greatly contributed to that.  Every neighborhood could use at least one "Gladys Kravits" and I wish mine had more.

[Hometown]

Look at it this way.

Everyone of those absentee landlords is going to make thousands of dollars more when they go to sell because of your hard work and the risks you take.  How much of that profit are they going to share with you, or put back into the neighborhood?  They are pigs.  Absent Landlords, 9 out of 10 times, are pigs.

I say use every trick in the book to ride their a**es.  They respond when you hit them in the pocket book.  They understand that.

[Townsend]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

I had a screaming, naked, crack addicted prostitute marching back and forth on the terrace in front of my penthouse as a result of a similar situation.

But I also had the satisfaction of seeing her hog tied on the sidewalk before the cops hauled her off.

You wouldn't believe what transpired before and after that.

Man, you should've kept a blog.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

Look at it this way.

Everyone of those absentee landlords is going to make thousands of dollars more when they go to sell because of your hard work and the risks you take.  How much of that profit are they going to share with you, or put back into the neighborhood?  They are pigs.  Absent Landlords, 9 out of 10 times, are pigs.

I say use every trick in the book to ride their a**es.  They respond when you hit them in the pocket book.  They understand that.

Thanks Hometown, I agree.  It used to be that 80% of the problem properties in my neighborhood were rentals, but more and more it seems that owner-occupied homes are problems too.  I would say right now it is about 50/50.  Regardless of ownership status, I will be on their case for any code violations.

I bought my home in Lortondale because of the unique architecture and history of the neighborhood, paid off my mortgage 13 years early, and intend to live here the rest of my life.  You can be sure I will do all I can to keep the neighborhood clean and a desireable place to live, regardless of my neighbor's opinions.  Artist, be vilgilant and do anything it takes to protect your investment and keep your neighborhood up.  Ultimately, your neighbors, and the whole City of Tulsa, will thank you for your efforts.

[hello]

^I'm very glad that there are people trying to keep Lortondale nice. It saddens me to see homes with such great potential not being taken care of.