Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by MacClurg Vivian on September 3, 2009 at 4:15pm

Thanks Shawn, I sent an email and forwarded a copy to Mayor Duffy too. Note that your email sample does not list the Thurston address. I also asked them to call me.

My content:

I write as a concerned citizen of the 19thW in the city of Rochester regarding your property at 357-359 Thurston Road.There are many folks, like myself in the 19th Ward that are trying hard and investing in the area. We would appreciate, if you could help us in this effort, and help create properties that are like you say on your website "...some of the most desirable". I believe you (MARCUS & SOLOMON ASSOC LLC) want to have pride in your business, all of it; maintaining your properties in the city is one way to do that.

With appreciation,
MacClurg Vivian

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Permalink Reply by MacClurg Vivian on September 3, 2009 at 4:25pm

This went to the mayor and Jean Howard:

Greetings Bob and Jean,
Today I sent an email as part of a 19thW effort to a less than desirable landlord/property owner, your support would be welcome. Other 19thwarders are also emailing the company. I send this to you as I do not know where I should send in in city govt. to get some support for our efforts. See especially Location 19 for the conversation on this project. a forum discussion called "Focus Thurston Road"
http://location19.ning.com/forum/topics/focus-thurston-road. Another great way to activate citizen involvement, thanks to the Loc. 19 founder Shawn.


My email:

I write as a concerned citizen of the 19thW in the city of Rochester regarding your property at 357-359 Thurston Road.There are many folks, like myself in the 19th Ward, that are trying hard, and investing in the area. We would appreciate, if you could help us in this effort, and help create properties that are like you say on your website "...some of the most desirable". I believe you (MARCUS & SOLOMON ASSOC LLC) want to have pride in your business, all of it; maintaining your properties in the city is one way to do that.

The property of concern (they have others in disrepair and/or behind in taxes.)

357-359 Thurston Road
Owned by: MARCUS & SOLOMON ASSOC LLC
Website: http://marcusandsolomon.propertyware.com
Taxes Paid: No
City Tax Listing for 357 Thurston Road
Amount Owed: $3,997.95
City Tax Listing for 359 Thurston Road
Amount Owed:$2,725.85
City Tax Listing for 1-11 Penhurst St
Amount Owed:$3,333.56
Total Taxes Due: $10,057.36
Total Number of Units: 33 (Estimate)
Unit Rental Price $450-$650
Gross Annual Income from Units: $205,200 (if all rented)

what their website has to say about their properties:
"Tenants We manage some of the areas most desirable and affordable rentals. Our progressive staff members are consistently working to improve the quality of service and attention to detail are the best ways to provide comfortable communities for the people who have chosen our rentals. Our tenants feel comfortable knowing that 24 hours a day, 7 days a week they will be able to reach a qualified employee who will promptly address any maintenance issue as it relates to their safety or the integrity of your property."

End of Mayors email.

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Permalink Reply by Shawn on September 3, 2009 at 4:29pm

This is my email to Kris, our crime prevention officer at the South West Neighborhood Service Center

Good afternoon Kris,

I want to thank you for meeting with me on Monday, I am in the process of working on a flyer for our Block Club inititive, and should have something for you next week. I would love to have had something for you this week, but have come down with the flu.

The reason I am writing you today, is about a feature on Location19 that I have started regarding Thurston Road, called Focus Thurston Road ( http://location19.ning.com/forum/topics/focus-thurston-road ) where I investigate and report on a troubled or neglected property along the street. The information I collect is then posted to Location19, and a call to action is issued to all members to contact the owner of the property, either by email, letter, or phone call when appropriate.

This week is 357-359 Thurston Road, I want to call it to the attention of the Neighborhood Service Center. This property is a continual mess, and for the past month, there has been an old couch sitting on the front lawn, with weeds now growing up through it.

If you could pass this information along to whomever can take care of it, that would be great! In the future if you would like, I can email that person directly. I know how much work you currently have, and I do not want to unnecessarily create more for you.

Thanks again for meeting with me, and all the work you do for the City South West!
Your the greatest :)
-Shawn

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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on September 3, 2009 at 5:38pm

Per the City of Rochester webpage, property complaints can be made online here:/www.cityofrochester.gov/article.aspx?ekfrm=8589938202
or in person at the NSC office- The NSC for the 19th ward is located on Genesee Street.
I really like the idea of adding photos to these complaints. I am in the process of compiling a collection of photos re: a particularly troublesome issue in another area of the 19th ward and will be submitting them with another formal complaint.

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Permalink Reply by Shawn on September 3, 2009 at 9:33pm

Response from Kris at NSC

Hi Shawn,

Sorry to hear that you’re sick. I enjoyed our meeting and see good things ahead for our area. I passed on this info for 357/359 Thurston to our inspectors. I think we had another complaint there for drug sales. I will look in to that and have our inspectors take care of the mess in the yard. You can continue to send complaints to me, or call them in to the NSC 428-7630 and the civilians that answer the phones will make the job.

Kris

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Permalink Reply by Mark Sweetland on September 6, 2009 at 3:16am

Please do not knock on doors but let the NSC handle this. Private citicens are at risk if they "knock on doors," and under no circumstances should be involved. You could be shot. Please only involve NSC and do not enter private property.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Sweetland on September 8, 2009 at 10:57pm

Gotcha! Of course your approach makes sense, but I would still leave it up to the NSC. Not having been with you, I have no idea how the guy was, but if you feel comfortable staying in touch with him ... totally up to you. But in general, I would suggest people contact the Neighborhood Service Center with complaints for code, or persistent noise problems. 428-7630.

Citizens can contact the NSC, as that is what the 19th Ward Community Association would do anyway, and it would not hurt to send 19th WCA a notice of any of your complaints.

Mark

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Permalink Reply by Shawn on September 27, 2009 at 12:50pm

So it has been almost a month, and I have not heard anything back regarding this property (I did not expect too). But while researching different codes on the City's website (yes I like to do stuff like this! lol, but I am also taking a Building Codes and Regulations Class this quarter) I came across something that might help.

As I become more familiar with how things work on the city's side of things, I have come to realize that if we can speak "the code" we can sometimes get a quicker response (or maybe even a response) to our reporting violations. So to get a better response to this and other properties on Thurston Road and else where in the 19th Ward, we need to be reporting it as a "Get Tough Violation" or as the City's website spells it out:

"Get Tough Violations:
A Get Tough violation is defined as high grass and/or weeds of 10 inches or more, or trash/debris that is loose and uncontained.

The process for Get Tough violations is as follows:
The CEO inspects the property for either high grass and weeds or trash and debris. Grass and weeds must be a minimum of 10 inches before an CEO can cite it. If the violation exists, the CEO sends out a Notice and Order which requires the owner to abate the violation within 5 days.

If upon reinspection the violation has not abated, the owner is issued a ticket for $150 per violation. The City then acts to abate the violation

For high grass and weeds, the property is sent to a private contractor to abate the violation. This is usually done within 2 days of submitting it to the contractor.
For trash and debris, a work order is submitted to the City’s Department of Environmental Services to abate the violation. The time this takes to abate is dependent on scheduling of the work crews.
The property owner is billed for services provided for both types of Get Tough violations."

So feel free to contact the Neighborhood Service Center here.
And fill out the form here. Remember to report is as a "Get Tough Violation"
As always, I will keep you posted! Keep up the great work, and thanks for your help.
-Shawn

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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on September 27, 2009 at 2:04pm

Did anyone else get a response from their emails?? I know MacClurg sent an email to the mayor.......
Reports to the Neighorhood Service Center are also a good idea but my 'luck' with them following through on things is extremely hit and miss- mostly MISS! Perhaps if we speak with LOUDER, more UNIFIED voices we'll get some response to many of these issues - 911 calls, code violations, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Hilary Homer on October 1, 2009 at 5:31pm

Haha, no response here either. I tried tracking down the names of the corporate officers, but New Jersey wants me to pay for this information.

I may take another tack and look into the NYS requirements for operating as a property management company in the state. It will be good information to have.

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Permalink Reply by Shawn on October 1, 2009 at 6:12pm

So now with the new "Rochester Street Watch" initiative, in this case how would we know who to file a "disturbed property" civil suit against under the city nuisance law?

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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Smith on October 1, 2009 at 6:50pm

According to the attorney at the meeting last night in the last few months they have revamped the procedures for owners to register properties and they are required to provide pretty extensive contact information and ensure that said info is kept current. Should an effort be made to contact them with mail returned or disconnected phones; they can be held liable for failure to comply.

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