Politics & Government

Better Homes & Garbage

Eyesore property in the neighborhood? Let the city know.

Got garbage?

Neighborhoods across the city have the eyesore property — you know, the run down home or trash-heaped lawn.

So when we saw this mess at 905 Moreland Ave. SE in Ormewood Park, we had to stop. (That it's for sale makes it even more tragically comedic.)

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Neighborhood meeting after neighborhood meeting we've heard from city officials who stress they want to hear from residents about problem properties before they get out of control.

So we reached out to City Councilwoman Natalyn Archibong's office and an aide promised code enforcement would take care of it.

Find out what's happening in East Atlantawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The aide also advised that anyone with an issue or complaint should contact the city:

Some neighborhoods, like Reynoldstown and Old Fourth Ward, are particularly aggressive about staying on the city to pressure homeowners and, in the case of foreclosures, banks, that have eyesores.

Other neighborhoods, like Inman Park, have civic-minded homeowners like Elizabeth Keathley, who was indefatigable in getting the city to force a Buckhead developer to clean up the lot next to her home in the last few of years.

On the City Council, Archibong, whose district includes East Atlanta, Lake Claire and Edgewood, among other neighborhoods, spearheaded the formation of an illegal tire and trash dumping commission last year.

And Maj. Keith Meadows, commander of the Atlanta Police Department's Zone 6, built a database of vacant properties in that zone's neighborhoods and directed officers to check those properties regularly.

Enforcement of housing codes now falls under APD with a goal of that change being a reduction in the backlog of cases.

Bottom line line: See a problem, call.


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