This house has actually been vacant for closer to 9 years. Siding is falling off, the chimney has large areas of missing mortar and is near collapse onto roof or the now-tottering fuel tank beside it, the garage is collapsing (one side into abutting neighboring yard). Tree limbs falling onto sidewalk and neighboring yards have been a consistent problem. The reporter is also correct about rodents and snakes. The power has been shut off for several years and the basement is no doubt filled with water since the sump pump has been turned off...PLEASE HELP. The heirs have not addressed issues or concerns by neighbors after numerous contacts.

Thanks for reporting. I have referred this to the City’s Housing and Environmental Inspections Division. When the inspectors have had a chance to investigate I will post an update.

The inspector confirmed the violations cleared and the case was closed on 8/20/13.

Exactly what "violations" have been "cleared"? The only thing that was done is that the lawn was mowed! The garage is still falling down, the chimneys and exterior fuel tank are still collapsing and unstable, the basement likely has a considerable amount of standing water as the electricity and sump pump have been turned off for quite some time, and no one has entered the house to correct health and safety violations originating from the conditions inside the house. The result is that debris falls into and is carried by animals into neighboring yards, rodents and other vermin are seen at the property (managed minimally by cats that hang out there. The heirs overseeing this property have not responded to neighbors concerns nor have they done anything to rectify conditions. C'mon--this has been an issue for 9 years!

Thanks for following up Nanerl!

We will ask Housing & Environmental Inspections to take a second look at this one.

Thank you! This really requires more than a drive-by and immediate neighbors and abutters should have a right to know what violations were cited and what measures were taken to correct them.

Put our tax dollars to work and help us out, City. How about a forced tear down if the owner won't sell.

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And you have no idea what the neighborhood has done as far as already contacting the owners, etc.

I've seen these situations, sometimes it boils down to having the city come in and make the changes happen. If you don't live here, you can't speak to this.

Per Housing & Environmental, an inspector tried to gain access and the owner will not allow inspection of structure condition. Based on what the inspector can see there is no case at this time.

So, doesn't the response of the owner tell you something? Did the inspector look at the condition of the two chimneys and fuel tank (observable from the sidewalk)/ What about condition of the crumbling garage (also visible from the street and from abutters' property--can you ask the abutters to access their yards to view?

Nanerl- that's what I thought, too. It seems to me the City can access the crawlspace with some kind of warrant due to environmental hazards and public nuisance pretext, without the owner's 'consent'. The lack of cooperation by the owner IS the problem here. I am happy that the nasty comment (left by the owner) was deleted in this forum.

The siding of this house is asbestos and I would think that if the siding is at the point of falling off in certain spots and exposing the fibers that the City would consider this an environmental hazzard for the neighborhood.

Picture 1

Picture 2--Garage

Picture 1--collapsing chimney and fuel tank

Picture 3 Rear chimney with more than 50% odf mortar missing

Picture 4 Vines in basement and broken asbestos siding

Picture 5 Rear of house where rodents and snakes have been seen

Picture 6 Garage from E side with debris

Picture 7 Rear corner view

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/monitoring/programs/caa/neshaps.html
The NESHAP contact in North Carolina is Edward Norman (AHERA/NESHAP), 919-707-5950, ed.norman@dhhs.nc.gov. You may want to ask him about the asbestos aspect of broken tiles with regard to Hazardous Air Pollutants Compliance in a situation where the tiles are clearly damaged.Maybe the EPA can at least test the site for fibers being released? If the tiles were undamaged, sure, no problem in their view.

COR: any update per the pictures taken?

The pictures sent are all from the past week

We have asked Inspections to review the pictures and re-inspect if necessary.

An inspector investigated and initiated an unfit housing case on 9/24/2013 with deadline of 01/04/2014. No public nuisance case at this time.

What does that mean has to happen and who keeps track?

An inspector is meeting with a representative of the family this week to discuss the issues with the property. Additional information will be posted after that meeting.

Is there a way to have the inspectors go INSIDE? The health and safety issues stemming from the conditions inside the house are a direct result of the actions of the family, not the elderly homeowner (they have made things worse)! The neglect of the exterior is due to their inaction.

I think you all may want to hold on, and stop being so critical, when you haven't spoken to the owner or families directly. I walk by this house almost every day. While dilapidated...so are many homes in 5 Points..at least the yard upkeep has gotten better. Are boards missing from the back storage - yes - BUT IT's IN THE BACK! Are you illegally trespassing back there?? Maybe focus on getting your own property as yard of the month, and let the City (and the owners) be. Nothing dramatic has happened to the property over these past few years, with all of the storms we have had. Roof is still on, chimney still standing. Call in the EPA?? Give me a break. The real embarrassment here is not the property, but the busy-bee neighbors who need to find something better to do with their time.

To the guest above--your comment doesn't really deserve a response, but 1) walking by and living by are not the same and 2) abutters have talked with and tried to work with the owners numerous times and that hasn't worked.

Per Housing and Environmental: Staff had a scheduled appointment to meet on site however no one showed. We are moving forward with obtaining a title search on the property and will be initiating an unsafe case on the accessory structure. We have sent a formal notice to the owner per the Wake County Tax Records requesting to make an inspection of the property. If we are denied entry we will move forward with obtaining an administrative warrant to make a minimum housing inspection of the dwelling. We are just beginning this process and additional infromation will be posted as it is available.

THANK YOU!!

COR any update on this?

I was wondering the same thing. Literally NOTHING has been done (even yard work has stopped, so there are leaves and broken branches and a flapping front storm door). I believe January was the date that COR gave for action on this.

Requesting an update from Housing and Environmental Inspections.

OK, now the (condemned) garage has officially collapsed --see attached photo (sometime between Sat AM and Mon afternoon). It looks like someone was trying to remove items from inside it and those things were apparently holding it up (what a surprise). Does COR require action to remove the debris (that has also collapsed the chain link fence beside it)? If so, what is the timeline? Previous posts from COR gave Jan 4th as deadline for resolving issues... This issue with the garage is a reflection of other structural issues with the house--collapsing chimneys, flooded basement, collapsing exterior fuel tank, rodents, etc (as reported above by numerous neighbors)...So NOW what??

I can't find your photo, but I am not surprised the garage collapsed. Sounds like a minimum code enforcement case. Shame on the City for letting this stuff slide routinely. How about lowering the taxes of the abutters?

We will alert Inspections of this and post additional information as we receive it.

Per Inspections: A representative of the owner has taken down the accessory structure but hasn’t removed it from the property. Staff has initiated a public nuisance case to have the debris removed. The deadline for compliance is February 3, 2014.

It's 7 PM on February 3rd (COR stated deadline. The collapsed structure and discarded appliances are still exactly where they were on January 20th. Who is responsible for removing the debris--the owner or the COR? Now what?

We will follow-up with Inspections.

The property was re-inspected on 2/3/2014 and found not to be in compliance and it has been submit for City abatement.

Thank you--but what does that mean? and when will it be cleaned up?

I think 'abatement' means it will be condemned and maybe torn down.

Abatement means the City will clean up the collapsed structure and discarded appliances and charge the property owner for it, as well as an administrative fee.

Thanks for the response. So, is there a date scheduled for the clean up/removal?

Not at this point, the abatement will need to be approved by City Council. We will keep this issue open until it is resolved.

Thanks City! Appreciate all the time you have put into this! Feel sorry for the owners family since the owner passed.... what a hassle for you all!

COR--When will the City Council meet on this so things can move forward?

We will follow-up with Inspections.

Per Inspections, we are in the process of awarding the contract to the abatement cleaners. We will post additional updates as available.

Kudos to the CoR person(s) who has been responding to all the questions and comments on this sensitive issue, which probably should have been escalated beyond See-Click-Fix for resolution last year. You are to be commended for your professional and non-combative responses. I appreciate the work you do. I hope others will follow suit and thank you when all is said and done.

Thanks for the post, we are working to take care of this situation. This has been and continues to be a long process that involves many different people and departments in the city organization. We appreciate your patience.

Do the current owners not want to sell this property? I rather like it.

OK COR, it's now been over 2 mo since the garage has come down--appliances still sitting out. Issues about this property were first posted here last July and have been followed here by several neighbors...but issues have been brought to the City's attention numerous times over the past 4 years now. When is this going to be resolved? We are not "feeling the love" expressed by one poster (no doubt because they do not have to look at this every time they walk out their door--we DO)! For those who think we are just being "nosy", we are not--we have had to deal with flooding caused by their disabled sump pump, dealt with rodents and the remnants of lawn furniture dropped in our yard by critters, smells of dead/trapped animals and rotted food left inside the house for many years, fallen branches in our yard and MUCH more that the relatives overseeing this property have not addressed and have made worse. We liked and felt sorry for the elderly owner who knew nothing about the condition of this property or that was ill-managed by relatives. Those same individuals had over 9 years to get the probate resolved, and have left the house in deplorable condition inside and out. Whoever said this should not have come to this forum is right--but the only way any action has taken place is related to this public forum...and it's still not resolved after over 9 mo. here. We deserve better!

Does anyone know if this house is still in probate? I might be interested in the house if it isn't legally encumbered in any way.

We will follow-up with Inspections and post an update.
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Housing and Environmental Inpsections staff has responded. Great news! The abatement contractor is on site working today. She is about 95% complete on removing the remains of the storage building. There is just a little left. The rain is holding up her completing the work, but she will be coming back to finish up after the weather breaks. An inspection of the house has been made. In its current condition the house has not been cited for any violations of the Housing Code. It is an older home which is vacant.

Thanks.

GI Jane (the contractor) is indeed doing a great job and a lovely person. THAT SAID, they are only able to access/remove the collapsed garage and debris (in back of property) by going through the driveway/yard of an adjacent home. WHY? Because COR did not authorize removal of a large stump that blocks ANY vehicle access to the rear of the vacant property (which COR is clearly aware of because their own vehicles didn't fit). If the owner is being charged for the debris removal, why wasn't this factored into the bids--they should have been charged to create access the property, instead of inconveniencing neighbors.

In terms of the contention that this is just "an older home which is vacant"--WOW! That's like saying someone's clothes caught fire--but neglecting to say they were wearing them at the time. This house has been vacant for 9+ years, there are RODENTS, POISONOUS SNAKES, ROTTING PERISHABLES INSIDE, STANDING WATER IN THE BASEMENT, MOLD, UNSTABLE CHIMNEYS AND TREES THREATENING ADJACENT PROPERTIES, DEBRIS THAT BLOWS AND IS CARRIED INTO THE SIDEWALK, STREET AND NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES, AND MORE. These are issues that neighbors have been trying to get resolved since at least 2008. Also, if COR is in charge, who is responsible for mowing the yard?

Sorry COR--This job is still not done yet!

I totally agree with the abutter. I also live on Aycock and this house and the City's absence of will to deal with it is an embarrassment to the entire neighborhood. This is what the minimum code is for: you need access to the back yard as a minimum and also access to the basement. Maybe have a look at the wiring. This is a drag to property values to the entire area. WE all follow the rules...why can't the owners of this house?

While See, Click, Fix is a GREAT tool, it obviously doesn't work for all situations....' shouting' in email caps at City Staff may be one of them. I'd suggest at this point, contacting Council member Bonner Gaylord.... its why we have council...

City staff..the removal does look good, and the property is looking better. Thank you for your work.

A good reminder to all of us why we should estate plan before we become incapacitated!

Using capital letters isn't the same as 'shouting'--the words capitalized in Abutter's post simply restated/emphasized primary concerns consistently referred to by various posters, but which have still not been adequately addressed since this issue was first opened. This is not (and should not be) a political issue. The concerns raised by neighbors refer to outstanding code, health and sanitation concerns that need attention and action by COR (or other public) authorities. These still have not been adequately addressed by the CORs own standards (e.g. COR has still apparently not gained access to or inspected the interior of the house, as they stated they would in 10-4-13 post). This issue needs to remain open until all health and safety concerns have been adequately resolved by the proper public authorities.

Thanks for the support Nanerl! I wish the emphasis would be focused on fixing the problems (for us and the neighborhood in general) not my use of CAPS, shaming the messengers, or opining about estate planning. The company who cleared the collapsed garage DID do a really nice job, but the garage has been only a small part of the problem...I don't understand why the owner can refuse to do any repairs or even let the COR access to inspect under the circumstances.

The Housing and Environmental Inspections Division has responded. This public nuisance has been sent to one of our contractors for abatement. It should be cleared within the next week or so. Delays were due to bad weather.

The Housing and Environmental Inspections Division has given another update. Great news. The abatement contractor was on site working on 3/28/2014. She has removed the remains of the storage building. The rain last week held her up from completing the work, but she will be back to finish up. An inspection of the house has been made. In its current condition the house has not been cited for any violations of the Housing Code. It is an older home which is vacant.

Thanks.

Thanks for fixing this issue!

As neighbors have noted above (3/28 & 3/31 above)--we are grateful that the falling/fallen-down garage was removed--and yes, the contractor did a nice job (though she was forced to do the work from a neighboring property because the driveway of the vacant house is blocked). Also noted on those same dates were ongoing outstanding issues--all of which pertain to the main house and include health and safety issues. While COR inspectors were scheduled to inspect inside 6 months ago (back in October--see above), the owner refused access at that time and that inspection was never completed. It seems that this issue still needs to be addressed and a thorough inspection of the issues that have been raised since this case was opened revisited--before another 6 months pass. Neighbors are going to keep coming back on this until this is fully resolved.

The Housing and Environmental Inspections Division did indeed comment on your concern, Nick. I amve again, including it in this comment.

The Housing and Environmental Inspections Division has given another update. Great news. The abatement contractor was on site working on 3/28/2014. She has removed the remains of the storage building. The rain last week held her up from completing the work, but she will be back to finish up.

An inspection of the house has been made. In its current condition the house has not been cited for any violations of the Housing Code. It is an older home which is vacant. Thank you.

Thanks.
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