Ms. Beckers pretty much hit it on the nail. The city can't or won't take care of problem properties but wants to control the number of windows and type of siding? I have a house on my corner that's been boarded up for more than a dozen years. The MCDA bought it in 1992 and the city still hasn't dealt with it. The house next door to it is a garbage house, which is why the corner house was vacated in the first place, and the city doesn't deal with that either. I'm tough and plan on hanging on in the hood, but last weekend when my canoe was stolen Friday night and my boat was stolen Sunday night I had to think twice about what I'm doing here. The City Council needs to worry about real problems not windows and siding!
Buzzy Bohn Hanging in there in Folwell - about a block from Ms. Beckers. Connie Beckers wrote: > I am dumbfounded as to why the City Council takes up their valuable time > splitting hairs on what kind of siding and how many windows a home can have! > Some people might like the look of a house with fewer windows -- and perhaps > it saves heating costs, too! Geesh --- what kind of siding a home can > have?!? Give me a break! > > Hey City Leaders! How about doing something to bring back some quality of > life into our neighborhoods? And I suggest you start with limiting how many > rental homes there can be on a block .... not apartment buildings ... but > single family homes owned by developers for the sole purpose of rental > income. > > On my block, there are about 10 of these properties plus 2 duplexes and 2 > apartment buildings -- all non-owner occupied rentals. I learned earlier > this week that the one right next to me is going to be sold to an investor, > as well. I will then be flanked by two rental properties with 2 more right > across the street from me. The tenants are often gathered on the front lawn > drinking and/or arguing and/or dealing drugs at all hours. The young kids > are often running up and down the block through our yards, tearing up our > gardens and throwing rocks at our dogs. The trash piles up in the alley, > broken glass everywhere, tricks and drug deals in the alley leaving baggies > and condoms strewn about .... and when the property is empty (as frequently > happens when the place has been completely trashed) there's a giNORMous FOR > RENT sign out front for everyone to see as they come to your house to buy > your artwork. > > And then there's the dwelling on 33rd & Colfax Avenue North that's been > torched TWICE and still sits vacant and burned out ... not even boarded up > after this second fire just a couple weeks ago. The first fire was in March, > I think, and not as bad as this last one. The second floor is completely > gutted and nothing has been done to mask it's appearance -- just the ARSON > signs out front! I talked to an Inspector with the City who said that with > the City's red tape, this house won't be demolished until next January! > After the first fire, the boards were slapped on so loosely that they were > being pried off as quickly as they could be nailed back down. The plywood > over the back door had no latch so it was always sitting open with who knows > what going on inside? And it was covered with spray painted symbols of some > sort. I called the Inspector's office about that burned out house and they > can't do anything any time soon because all the red tape. He said I should > call my councilperson to complain about the lack of personnel and resources > to expedite these matters. > > Remind me again why I want to live in the City of Minneapolis? I used to > challenge my neighbors for moving out and deserting the neighborhood. I told > them that we'd be able to fight off all the bad stuff that was coming if > they stayed in their homes. I used to staunchly defend my neighborhood to my > school pals who'd moved to the 'burbs and rural locales. I wondered why they > wanted to live that kind of Stepford life becoming chauffeurs for their > kids. Everything out there was too far to walk to and now they even had to > pay for all the activities that were offered by the parks and schools here > ... for free. > > That was back then .... this is now. All their predictions came true and now > here I sit, eating crow and afraid of how much worse things can possibly > get. > > ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ > ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ > Connie Beckers - Folwell > Feeling better with the new motion light installed out front. > > REMINDERS: > 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. > If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL > PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. > > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > > For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html > For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn > E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
