THE HOUSING COMMITTEE WANTS YOU!!!

IT SEEMS THAT VOLUNTEERS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY THESE DAYS AND THE HOUSING COMMITTEE IS NO EXCEPTION. HOWEVER, THE ISSUES WE GRAPPLE WITH ARE IMPORTANT TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE HERE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT TO MENTION OUR PROPERTY VALUES. THE LIST BELOW HOLDS EXAMPLES OF COMPLAINTS WE HAVE ALL HEARD OR SEEN. ALL OF THEM ARE CITY CODE VIOLATIONS, BUT TOO OFTEN NOTHING IS DONE. OUR STRATEGY IS TO BE THE SQUEAKY WHEEL AND FOLLOW UP UNTIL THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED, AND STAY RESOLVED.

WE WILL RECONVENE AFTER THE SUMMER HIATUS ON SEPTEMBER 12, 11:00 AM, AT THE 19TH WARD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION OFFICE, 216 THURSTON ROAD. THIS MEETING TIME IS FLEXIBLE AND CAN BE ADJUSTED TO FIT SCHEDULES.

PROBLEMS THE COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON:

PEELING PAINT
GARBAGE AND TRASH
HIGH GRASS AND WEEDS
ILLEGALLY CONVERTING SINGLE RESIDENCES INTO MULTIPLE UNITS OR ROOMING HOUSES
CREATING ADDITIONAL PARKING BY PAVING OVER FRONT OR BACK YARDS
UNLICENSED OR “JUNK: VEHICLES STORED ON THE PROPERTY
FALLING GUTTERS
ROTTING FRONT PORCH STEPS
COLLAPSING GARAGES

(A LONGER VERSION OF THE ABOVE LIST CONTAINING THE APPLICABLE SECTIONS OF CITY CODE CAN BE FOUND ATTACHED.)

ABOVE IS A TOWNHOUSE ON AN OTHERWISE VERY NICE STREET. THE GARBAGE TOTES WERE LEFT IN THE FRONT YARD AND SOMETIMES IN THE TREE LAWN 24/7. LOOSE TRASH WAS ALSO A CONSTANT PROBLEM. AFTER THE COMMITTEE ADDRESSED THIS EYESORE WITH THE CITY, IT WAS CLEANED UP AND REMAINS CLEAN TODAY.

ACTIONS TAKEN

DEVELOPED CRITERIA AND PROCESSES TO IDENTIFY “PROBLEM” PROPERTIES
CONTACTED PROPERTY OWNERS DIRECTLY USING A “SOFT,” HELPFUL APPROACH.
REPORTED CONTINUING PROBLEM PROPERTIES TO THE CITY AND HAD PROBLEMS RECTIFIED

WISH LIST

CREATE A LIST OF CONTRACTORS THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD POSITIVE EXPERIENCES WITH
DEVELOP "HOW TO" GUIDES TO SHOW HOMEOWNERS THE PROPER WAY TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THEIR HOMES
EDUCATE RESIDENTS ABOUT WHOM TO CONTACT AT THE CITY FOR VARIOUS QUESTIONS AND ASSISTANCE/DIRECTION.

SPIN-OFFS OF THE COMMITTEE’S WORK

DEVELOP FREE WI-FI IN THE 19TH WARD . THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE SOUTHWEST COMMON COUNCIL PICKED UP THIS PROJECT TO EXPLORE ITS FEASIBILITY AND IMPLEMENT A PILOT IN THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jinny Spencer on September 1, 2012 at 7:37pm

Hi Marion - My schedule changed soon after the housing committee started, Wednesdays are my busiest days. But, I do want to add my ongoing frustration regarding the property at 536 Genesee Park Blvd. Not sure if I should post photos here or on the Wall of Shame discussion! Numerous calls to the City by several neighbors over the course of 4 years and we still have to contend with this mess! Health Dept. has also been called for rodents. This is an owner occupied residence.

My frustration continues when I see the inspector sitting in the car, not bothering to get out and check the property. They always have permission to walk in my yard and my neighbors to see the unmowed lawn in the back along with constant trash and litter.

This situation would not be tolerated in other parts of the city. A recent appraisal of my property was down due to the adjacent "blight"....how's that for quality of life!

These photos were taken in May, the rug on the railing is still there today!

Keep up the good work on the Housing Committee, hoping my schedule will change by mid-Oct. Jinny Spencer

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Permalink Reply by Judi Baker on September 1, 2012 at 9:39pm

Why not add these photos with date and time taken to the SW Wall of Shame!

Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on September 2, 2012 at 11:26am

Jinny- I feel your pain!! Like you, we spent 5/FIVE long years attempting to have code issues for one property addressed by the City. We met with NET (4 + times), talked with multiple inspectors, sent many emails, wrote letters, complained to David Hawkes, Molly Clifford, Carlos Carbolada, etc....we asked for confidentiality as we went 'up the chain of command' only to have City employee's forward our complaints to other City employee's. Some City employee's actually told the neighbors WHO was complaining and this started some UN-NEEDED difficulty between neighbors. We still have about 3 properties that we're working on and we're on year 3 for at least one of them!

The City does not seem to have any clear process for handling and/or following up on property complaints - I cannot even begin to list the various stories we've heard about why things take so long to address! Almost every time I follow up re: a particular property the City has inaccurate information (i.e. the property is vacant, the property is owner occupied, etc). It should NOT take this level of citizen energy to deal with these things and these are the types of issues that drive homeowners out of this neighborhood!

I think you are correct that this wouldn't be tolerated in other parts of Rochester. Similarly, the parking issues on Thurston wouldn't be tolerated (i.e. cars illegally parked on sidewalks). I now play a little 'game' with myself when i'm on Thurston (almost every day) - I count the number of illegally parked cars between Brooks and Marlborough. This past Friday evening there were 8 cars on sidewalks and 4 others in marked no parking zones!

Permalink Reply by Judi Baker on September 4, 2012 at 6:32pm

why not post your database monthly in here? Perhaps a news reporter may one day need a community topic to research and report? I hear they may monitor this site.

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