DATE: Sunday, April 27, 1997                TAG: 9704260162

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 02   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: FOCAL POINT 

SOURCE: John Pruitt 
                                            LENGTH:   64 lines

FIGHTING BLIGHT: IT'S ABOUT CITY'S FUTURE

A lot of good came from a recent, citizen-organized meeting about property issues confronting some Suffolk neighborhoods.

As leader Wendy Hill put it, we've pointed fingers long enough at boarded-up dwellings, neglected rental property and residents who put out their garbage any day they wish. ``Let's just fix the problem,'' she urged.

So where's the good, seeing as how few of us individually can do anything about people who think it's okay to park on the front lawn, landlords who live elsewhere and never see the condition of their property and a city that lacks either the will or the way to enforce its property regulations?

1. The meeting was organized by a citizen who sees the strength in numbers.

When Ms. Hill took on this role, she didn't know how many people would show up to say they shared her conviction that it's past time for action on issues that have persisted for decades.

The City Council chamber was practically filled. These aren't just problems identified by Wendy Hill in her neighborhood but also by many others.

It was wonderfully encouraging for speaker after speaker to identify himself as a representative of this or that neighborhood or civic organization. Together, we represent a lot of people - people who vote and pay taxes and generally contribute to the well being of Suffolk.

2. Numerous property owners and managers came to say they share many of the concerns.

It certainly makes their properties much less desirable when tenants kick apart doors because they misplaced a key, toss out screens and let curtains flap out of windows or bring junk automobiles into their back yards.

The question: What are those owners/managers doing to make the properties attractive to tenants who know better than all of the above?

When a coworker walked through my neighborhood recently, he observed how easy it is to tell rental property from owner-occupied property.

Some rental property in my neighborhood is so cared for that he wouldn't see any difference. Wouldn't it be great if owners/managers took on the simple challenge of further blurring any difference between owner-occupied and renter-occupied homes?

3. The message of frustrated homeowners - and renters - got to the right ears.

Along with the owners/managers, also in the audience were some City Council members, the mayor, city manager, city attorney and several other officials.

They heard citizens say that when they try to take on neighborhood blight, they're too often thwarted by City Hall. Inspections rules are not enforced, eyesore houses beyond repair remain standing, the legal process that should protect homeowners either grinds on forever or doesn't grind at all.

4. Nobody expects government to do it all.

Numerous speakers testified to their willingness to take on clean-up and beautification projects.

But there are limits to what citizens can do. We can't haul off private property, including junk cars; we can't tow the automobiles of people who park across walkways; we can't mandate common sense, which tells you not to put out bags of garbage for dogs to tear apart or to cut the grass before it becomes a breeding place for insects and rodents.

5. The meeting was only the beginning.

Now, organizations will consider the list of problems and concerns composed at the meeting and identify what they consider the city's most pressing property-related problems. That is, priortize and identify what can be resolved privately and what will demand city involvement.

It's the way to get things gone.

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