See attached pictures please, I will also print them and put them in the drop box at borough office attention code enforcements. This reminds me of the ghetto in Chicago. The out of town landlord WINS, I said I would not move because of his low life tenants , but with the little help I get from code enforcement and the lack of codes that protect clean proud homeowners of this town my house is FOR SALE, if you drive out to visit this site at the rear of 732 Plane street you will see the FOR SALE sign at my house 734 Plane street. I lived here all my life and finally had enough, apparently others have too. The Lancaster News had an article just the other day 91 less people compared to last years census for Columbia Borough. My wife and I have spent the past few weeks looking at homes in Wrightsville and Mountville. As we look at COMPARABLE homes to what we have what a difference! I challenge code enforcement to take me to Mountville and show me this style of life that has invaded this 700 block of Plane street for the past several years, it hasn’t always been this bad, but it has been steadily increasing, because of the economy Jim Leonard can’t get good tenants and the tenants and Jim Leonard know what they can and can’t get away with. These tenants just move in this past December and the cops have been here 3 times because of them. They were able to issue a fine to a visiting individual of the rear apartment and a disruptive conduct warning. I do thank the police department, they did what was expected of them in a professional manner. I personally thanked officer Jacobs after the hearing I attended 3/7/2011. If we could only get code enforcement to do something or someone needs to revise some codes or create new ones. My guess is that there is something codes can do about this EYESORE. I spoke with code enforcement officer George Wise he pretty much doesn't like writing fines from what I gather from our conversation. He would just rather send letters to the property owners and hope the issue goes away. He told me I may have to go to court to testify, told him no problem done it numerous time for the police department.
By the way the green trash cans are STILL sitting out in the alley ( Furnace Ave ) that runs parallel with Plane street you can see both of them in the corner of the picture 2 that is attached. I have questioned the trash cans for months now. There is an ordinance, but it isn’t being enforced, it’s written on my sewer bill from time to time, George Wise said he NEVER issued a fine for this violation. The town could use the money now is his chance. The parking meter officer is writing fines, perhaps we can promote him to code enforcement. Again he is doing his job ( meter officer) even though I hear complaints and he even got me once at the post office he is doing his job. While talking parking how come no ordinance has ever been made for these multi-unit apartments that are GRANDFATHERED from the current parking ordinance. 732 Plane has 4 units and currently there are two units with two vehicles and one unit with one vehicle. that is five cars that want to be as close to there front door as I do. They should create a ordinance that will control parking where these multi- units that were GRANDFATHERED exist. How about no more then one car per a unit or no more then 4 cars per four unit. That’s enough for now. You proved you can’t help me long term, so help me short term and fix the EYESORE out back so when the relator shows my house to a perspective buyer they are not scared out of Columbia like others have.
PS, This is not anything against you Leo. I have the upmost respect for you. You have always been more then fare in the past you even personally visited with me at my residence to resolve issues. I know you have a lot on your plate and I do see improvement in Columbia, but as for some of the descent caring homeowners there is little assistance from code enforcement and not enough updated ordinances. If anybody would like to speak with me please respond I have been keeping a log with some pictures on the issues mentioned and more.
Sorry complaining, but enough is enough.
Jerry Nissley
734 Plane Street
4 comments:
What's really scary here is that these pictures actually look better than a lot of places you see around town. Barry, you're running for council--here's your chance. The big issue and #1 problem holding our town back is code enforcement. We need more aggressive codes and the grandfathered units removed from the grandfathering and subjected to the same more aggressive rules as everyone else. And I think we need more aggressive officers in code enforcement since even with the existing codes, there's a lot more they could be doing. Whatever it takes--how about refusing certificates of occupancy for rentals and no new rental licenses--it's time for the slumlords to be pushed out of town. Barry, please push for change here and identify which other candidates are going to back you up on codes so we know who to vote for and who needs to go. It's line in the sand time Barry. Please step forward.
So what is the specific problem here? The porch? The junk on the porch? If someone is scared away by that porch (I'm guessing..?) then they sure are not going to buy *any* house on Plane St. Sorry.
How about a write-up that is more than a general rant? And I shudder at the thought of the borough regulating the number of legal, licensed and insured vehicles one can have at their residence.
Jerry, I feel your pain. I recently bought a wonderful home typical of Columbia architect of years gone by that needs some TLC. I have been working feverishly in trying to restore the property to its original grand appearance and keep it a single home. Most of the neighboring homes are now multi family dwellings and plagues with the associated problems such as no parking and no vested interest in the upkeep of the house. One week into the official start of Spring I get a Code Violation Notice demanding I clean-up a pile of brush that was left by the previous owners within the next 10 days. The brush is well within the boundaries of my property. Seriously how about maybe waiting until the ground thaws. Maybe my neighbors received one for the fence that is failing over on my property, or two doors down for the aluminum siding that is falling off the house and flaps in the wind all night,and poses a safety concern for when the pieces actually do fall and are potential huge razor blades free falling through the air, or the multi family dwelling across the street that monopolize the parking and thinks recycling means allowing your trash to blow over the neighborhood. Mr Code Enforcer, where were you when I had to pay a private contractor to have the property inspected prior to purchasing it? Did my taxes get reduced because you no longer provide that service? How about you focus on the problem property owners and let those of us with a project plan for the restoration of our homes work on ours. I have a well thought out action list that takes in account for the task and sub task that need to be complete. I have accounted for financial cost, time and weather restraints, contractor availability, leading and lagging sub task etc. I would be happy to share this with you but then my taxes would be raised to a point that would make my dream no longer cost effective. The brush will be cleaned up, the trees will be trimmed, the walls will be replastered the home will be painted the woodwork and hardwood floors will be refinished, and my project list goes on. All in good time my friend. I may even have the resources to excavate for off street parking, maybe I'll speak to Mr Doolittle to see how I can turn my adjoining lot into a parking and rent spaces to the neighbors and a monthly rate. Or maybe I'll just dig a huge hole in the yard throw-up a God awful chain link fence and call it complete.
Drive from Union Street to Cherry Street on fourth Street and look at that disater. What the hell has this town turn in to. Columbia is suppose to be an historical town.Its looks more like the entrance into the Bronx. Litter, people working on cars, junk filled porches. And this is just one of many areas in town that look like that. The Mayor and a Council member were engaging in a conversation regarding the quality of life issues in Columbia if it was getting better. The Mayor said it was and the member of Council disagreed. I give Columbia 5 years and you will read more stories about the above property owner.
JN.........
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