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February 13, 2006
Cleaning Up (click 'Comments' to see whole pic)
Mr Jonathan brought up a good point about cleaning up the town. I have been dealing with the city for 3 years now about an abandoned house behind mine on N Harris Rd. The house was to be demolished when I built my house in 2002. That was under our former codes director. The owner of the property even told me he was to be cleaning up the property when we met in 2002. Each year, i was told the same thing, "it is going to be cleaned up soon." In August 2005, I went to the codes dept and spoke with Mr Jason and Jonathan. Both were very polite about the situation and stated it would be torn down with 90 days of a "condemned' notice being placed on the property. That never happened. I went back to codes in December and was told the house would come down as soon as we had good weather. Mr Jonathan said the weather was not cooperating. It is now Feburary and the ugly thing still stands. I can recall numerous good weather days. There are even more around town like this (this has to be the worst). It is getting very old that the city is not expediting the clearing of these eye sores. I tried to sell my house last this past summer and the number one reason everyone turned it down was because of the old house. My wife and I have discussed erected an 8' high fence to block this out. But I do not think I shoud have to purchase a fence to block someone elses problem that clearly is in violation of city codes. The only reason I built here was that I was promised it would be gone. I live in a nice area except for this. There is also numerous amounts of trash, that blow in my yard and junk have managed to reappear after the city made them clean up last year. The codes dept needs to be more forceful about cleaning up our town. After watching things get worse at this place, I have noticed a certain city council member is always at the residence(owners of this abandoned house) next door. I have been told that the council member is of relation also. Call me crazy, but I have to speculate that something is going on so these people dont have to pay to have all the trash removed. The owner is obviously not going to take action on this; I hope Codes will take action now. What an embarassment.
Posted by David at February 13, 2006 02:49 PM
Comments
I absolutely agree with all the comments about cleaning up Portland. I have lived here since 2002 and it didn't take me long to notice how dirty this city is. I have also figured out that the police department is somewhat of a joke as well. I lived in Hendersonville before moving here and plan on selling my house and moving back either next year or the year after that. I don't understand how the city government plans on keeping people here with the town in such a nasty mess!?!
Posted by: Angie at March 25, 2006 01:26 PM
I agree with cleaning up the city. Ive only live in Portland for about 8 months now. I took my kids in town to eat the other day and all 4 made the comment "This is a dirty place". There was trash flying around on the streets, in every corner. COME ON CITY OF PORTLAND. You have a city that will fit in the most gas station parking lots, can you not keep the one street town clean??? All the parking lots are dirty, the "downtown" street is dirty. And we have an outrageous property tax for a one horse town. What are we paying for????
Posted by: Michael Contella at March 19, 2006 07:10 PM
YEAAAAAA!!!!!!!!
Ding dong the ugly house is down. I came home yesterday evening to find the eyesore down. Yes there is a pile of rubble there, but hopefully ir wont be for long. Thank you Mr Jonathan.
Posted by: David at February 22, 2006 07:11 AM
What is up with the couch on 52? It has been sitting there I know since Saturday night.That is just real nice to look at as you come into town.
Posted by: ara at February 21, 2006 09:18 AM
I have no idea why the contractor has not finished these houses. I did notice that drywall was delivered to the one house, but why put that up when there is not any siding or brick to prevent water leaks? I met with Mr Jonathan on Tues. he spoke with Kevin Tabb and was told a meeting was planned at 1030 am with the property owner of the N Harris house, the contractor to demolish it, and the Fire Marshal out at the house. I was home and outside working till 2p and no meeting ever happened. Still waiting.......
Posted by: David at February 16, 2006 10:04 AM
I know exactly where you are talking about, as I drive by this mess everyday. I am appalled that the city has continued to let this go on, but like you I have heard that they are related to someone that works for the city. I would imagine that it would be very hard to sell your house, with that and the two unfinished houses that were started over there as well. Do you know why those two projects were never completed?
Posted by: mak at February 13, 2006 09:40 PM