Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 12, 1990 TAG: 9007130020
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY WALKER SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Just a few weeks earlier the alley had been choked with weeds and grass. So Hilton, who lives on McDowell Street in Northwest Roanoke, called the city's Citizens Request for Service line.
"It was springtime, and I felt it ought to be cleaned," said Hilton, a retiree who enjoys flower gardening. "They came right after I called them, and they did a nice job."
The city made a special effort to eliminate eyesores such as overgrown alleys during its recent Spring Cleanup. The citywide program addressed a variety of concerns, such as potholes, sidewalk repairs, trash, abandoned vehicles, derelict houses, overgrown weeds and leaf collection.
The program began with a meeting in March of about 20 people from various city departments, said Stephanie Fowler, coordinator of the Roanoke Neighborhood Partnership. "The purpose was, let's start off spring right, let's get things cleaned up after winter."
An article in City Corner, a newspaper for city employees, encouraged the city staff to look out for trouble spots. Citizens were urged to conduct their own cleanups and to report eyesores needing city attention.
One neighborhood group requested action on an abandoned red car, trash in the street, overgrown brush, and scrap lumber and junk piled behind a house.
It's hard to say how many eyesores received attention, because the project involved a wide range of departments, Fowler said. Participating departments included building and zoning, engineering, parks and recreation, refuse collection, street maintenance, the neighborhood partnership and the police.
Refuse collection had 11 requests for action, the building commissioner received 285 requests, and engineering issued 251 work orders, Fowler said.
When the problem is on public property, the solution is fairly clear-cut. The city assigns crews to clean up roads and alleys. The police tow away cars abandoned on public streets if the owner does not respond to a warning.
Eyesores on private property pose more problems. Fowler encourages neighborhood groups to work with landlords. For example, the association can offer to maintain a vacant lot in exchange for a donation.
"We urge them to approach the owner, bring them into the organization and get a response that way. That's what neighborhoods are all about," Fowler said.
The city steps in only as a last resort.
In the case of overgrown lots, the city is empowered to cut grass over 13.65 inches high, Fowler said. But first, the owner is asked to do it. If no action is taken after several requests, the city cuts the grass and places a lien on the property to cover the cost.
In other situations, the city's authority is limited, Fowler said. Vacant, deteriorating houses can be condemned and boarded up, but they cannot be razed until they are deemed structurally unsound, which can take decades.
In the case of a derelict car on private property, the city can issue a notice, but is not empowered to haul the junker off.
Though not every eyesore was eliminated, the Spring Cleanup was generally successful, Fowler said, and will probably become an annual program.
"It increases the city staff's awareness. It also brings back some responsibility to the neighborhoods. Without their help, we can't do it."
Joining together to face and solve a neighborhood problem can boost community spirit, Fowler said.
"You'd be surprised what some small projects will do. It brings people together and adds to the perception that this is somewhere they want to live."
by CNB