Quick Poll
The Georgia DOT says the Highway 34 Bypass widening project & its contractors will get a 6-month extension to complete the job. Will the GDOT complete the project in 6 months or will it need another extension?
- Completed: 59
- Extension: 380
- Not Sure: 37
- No Opinion: 17
Total Votes:
Published Sunday, August 15, 2010 in Local
Photo by Jeffrey Leo
This townhome in Eastlake at SummerGrove is approximately 70 percent complete and has sat in disrepair since early 2008. Area residents complain that it’s not only an eyesore, but potentially hazardous.
Neighbors grumbling about overgrown lots that can drive down home values
The Newnan Times-Herald
Foreclosures continue to soar in Coweta County and, tragically, the negative effects extend far beyond the homeowners.
Neighbors are grumbling as unkempt properties drive down home values, leaving many asking what recourse Newnan or Coweta County officials have in these situations.
Some residents in Southwind at Stillwood Farms in Newnan have been growing increasingly frustrated as overgrowth on vacant lots approaches 6 feet, according to an area resident.
"It's an eyesore and it decreases property values," said one neighbor. The citizen was most concerned that the growth would hinder visibility on the roadways and create a safety hazard for school children as they enter and exit their buses.
"I don't want an innocent child to get hurt because of this overgrowth," she said.
Residents of Eastlake in SummerGrove have come before the Newnan City Council on a couple of occasions to complain about townhomes located at 63 and 67 Portico Place sitting in disrepair since early 2008 when construction was abandoned. Residents fear they are not only unsightly, but dangerous.
The unfinished townhomes are now owned by Quantum-Servicing, which has agreed to finish the properties. Newnan City Council will address this issue again at its Aug. 24 council meeting. Council members have expressed a desire to recommend the structures be repaired within 180 days.
Newnan Engineer/Public Works Director Michael Klahr said that the problem with these type of properties is that they are either privately owned, bank owned or in limbo between the two, making it very difficult to locate the responsible party. The city can't, by law, traipse onto private property to landscape.
Klahr and his crews can, however, justify maintaining the right-of-way at intersections to eliminate potential line-of-sight issues with motorists. He's personally been in touch with citizens to investigate problem areas.
Once a property is in violation of the city code, Newnan Code Enforcement Officer Matt Camp must follow a sometimes-lengthy protocol to remedy the situation.
"The city of Newnan monitors the published foreclosure notices and periodically inspects these properties," said Camp. "Structures and vacant properties that are foreclosed upon are treated as any other lot of record in Newnan with regards to code enforcement.
"Once the property contains violations, notice is mailed to the owner of the property," Camp continued. "The property owner is then given a time frame to correct the violations. If voluntary compliance is not obtained, a citation may be issued commanding the property owner to appear in Municipal Court.
"When addressing foreclosed properties, however, the process of determining and contacting the new owner is more difficult and time consuming," he added. "Depending upon the condition of any structure on the property, condemnation procedures may be necessary. The condemnation process is set in motion by the city council with guidance from the city of Newnan staff."
Coweta County handles property situations in the unincorporated areas of the county very similarly.
"If we get a complaint on tall grass in the immediate yard area or abandoned cars on an overgrown property, our ordinance allows us to go into platted subdivisions and, if the grass is over 12 inches, begin proceedings to let the owner know that he or she is in violation of the ordinance and needs to cut the grass and clean up the property," said Patricia Palmer, Coweta County public affairs director.
The top violators in the county are foreclosure properties, according to Palmer. They frequently have problems with trash and debris and overgrown bushes. They require a little more cleaning up than the average vacant lot.
The county sends notification to whomever is listed with Superior Court as the owner. If the property is in foreclosure, the bank receives the notification. The owner has 30 days to bring the property into compliance.
If the owner doesn't comply in 30 days, then the county begins a bid process to allow area landscaping companies the opportunity to clean the lot. After the lot is cleaned, the property owner is contacted a second time and given the opportunity to pay the bill for the cleanup without repercussion.
If the owner still refuses to comply within 30 days, the county files a lien on the property.
The good news is, according to Palmer, that once the county has been able to make contact with the property owner, they've "generally been able to get them to cut the grass and do the maintenance they need to do."
Last year, the county only placed liens on three properties. This year so far, the county is waiting for payment on three properties.
To report a structure or property that has fallen into disrepair within Newnan, contact the building department at 770-254-2362. To report county lots that are located within platted subdivisions, contact code enforcement at 770-2254-2669.
Comment On This Story
Times-Herald.com does not necessarily agree with the comments posted below. Responsibility of comments rests solely with the writer. Comments posted in ALL CAPS will be deleted.
Submission of a comment does not guarantee publication. Comments will be posted by a moderator after being scanned for abusive language, relevance, etc. See our Comments FAQ for more details.
If I was worred, I would cut it my self. What about you?
Posted by Johnny Fambro at 9:18 PM
Great comments - if the banks are 'the property owners,' then the banks need to keep the property up.
We have seen several news stories about banks paying local lawn services to mow the grass, why not do that here?
Posted by Resident at 6:33 PM
My bank fines me if I do all kinds of things = I would love to see them get a taste of their own medicine = it's the right thing to do.
Posted by Kirk Wilson at 3:36 PM
The banks made bad loans due to their own greed. Those banks should be responsible for the upkeep of the forclosed properties. If they do not keep the properties in decent shape, they should be fined. That is one person's opinion....
Posted by Susan Gilchrist at 11:00 PM
I live in East Lake at Summergrove. There is ONE unfinished townhome in the neighborhood and zero lawn maintenance issues. Everyone just needs to shut up and get ready for things to get worse because things will get worse before they get better. How about volunteering for a local charity since you have all this time to complain about grass height. We certainly have some shallow, spoiled idiots in this town. Get a life!
Posted by Tim at 6:25 PM
The issues isn't just foreclosed properties. If there was a foreclosed property next to me I would mow it - and I have at a previous home. The problem is also builder owned tracts that might be a block or two of undeveloped homes. With builders going out of business and nobody building houses it's these lots that are a major eyesore. Luckily for me I moved into a development that was 90% complete and not one of the ones that is 10-15%, where it's a major problem.
Posted by AP at 2:25 PM
For the complainers:Please realize one thing...it could be you that has the unkempt property.The way the economy is you should be thankful that it is not you. People don't do these things on purpose.Why don't you see if you can lend a helping hand instead of complaining!
Posted by Karen at 12:14 AM
Simple solution--goats! They love grass, plus they produce great milk for making cheese.
Posted by Buzz Kill at 5:09 PM
Sounds to me if it is bothering you so much get off your lazy butt and cut it yourself. Wah! Wah! Boo Hoo! Dang crybabies!
Posted by NATMAN at 4:53 PM
Weedeater----git er done!
Posted by Summergroooove at 4:16 PM
I have a yard across the street from me = 3 acres of 12 inch high grass, and I don't like looking at it. I am not a lazy guy and I have a push mower that is on it's last legs. I will get off the couch and go over there and mow the yard and see what happens. Maybe I will be a tresspasser.....Meybe I will blow up my mower......maby I will collapse from heat exhaustion and give EMS something to do.....Or maybe things will be just fine = let's find out.
Posted by Kirk Wilson at 3:47 PM
The armyworms should be there this week and I am sure they won't mind mowing the grass.
Posted by Joey at 8:37 AM
Wouldn't the developers be responsible for cutting the lawns? Especially in Summergrove or Avery Park - Lawn Maintenance is part of their deal.
Posted by Coweta resident at 12:09 AM
You all have nothing to cry about... I can't count how many home are empty here in Timberlane. I call the city all the time about issues and it sad to watch what I call my neighboor hood going to pot.. ( WHIS WE HAD HOA'S) AND it isn't just the empty HOMES !! I take pride why can't everyone else !!.. so much for my home value... AND FOR those that just UP and leave their "responsibilities" Take a look in the mirror... are you just thinking of yourself or those around you !!
Posted by I don't understand !! at 10:58 PM
I actually live in Summergrove and my first thought was also to just cut it myself. If there was one on my street, I'd rather a couple of neighbors take turns to keep it under control in hopes that a decent family would end up with it. But as someone mentioned, some neighorhoods have MANY lots and it's not as easy to keep up with!
Posted by summergrove resident at 7:35 PM
The owners of the townhomes in Summergrove pay a lawn maintenance fee - so you are right, they don't even have lawnmowers. Besides, these properties don't have finished yards -they are too uneven/rough to run a lawnmmower over. They don't have finished anything.
Posted by summergrove res- but not townhomes at 6:12 PM
When you purchase a home with extremely close neighbors this is what happens. Move to the country where you control your own equity!
Posted by mam at 4:43 PM
Im sure the property owner is not worried about you "trespssing" on thee property to cut the grass that hasnt been cut in 3 years...come on people grow up.
Posted by Robert at 3:41 PM
kudos for bringing this to front with words AND pictures, developers and homeowners should be made aware, if someone,a child were to get killed due to this condition, there is high probability that they could be indicted for manslaughter and spend next 30 to 50 years in slammer.
Posted by sid at 3:11 PM
Actually it is considered trespassing but if you were to go to someone in the law authority about it maybe you could get permission to cut the grass! there is a piece of property beside my house that my husband willingly cuts himself and we got permission so i know it can be done! like someone else said we are talking about summergrove!!!!!
Posted by citizen at 2:34 PM
I am one of those that got a letter . I had to clear up my lot . But before it burn I could not get no one to do any thing to clear the lots around me . they belong to one person .He is one of the person on zoneing .It's depen on who you are.
Posted by william at 2:03 PM
You can't enter someone else's property to cut their grass.It's called trespassing. But, we would be more than happy for the lazy, whiny rocket scientist to come over and cut it.
Posted by LC at 1:16 PM
There are aprox 60 empty lots in Avery Park that have been mowed once in aprox 2 yrs. I understand when people say get out and do it yourself. That is very doable for 2 lots, but when you are surrounded by empty lots it is not as easy.
Posted by Me at 12:42 PM
You would think summer groove would come in and cut it,since yall pay all those high dues . Like they said "cut it yourself" oh thats right yall people over there proboly dont own lawnmowers!
Posted by ** at 11:50 AM
This is summer grove, their yards are normally tiny. It might seem like an over daunting task to cut something that large. Specially since most only own a electric mower and trimmer. :)
Posted by John at 11:26 AM
Foreclosed on homes are still considered private property? True the owner probably doesn't care but isn't that considered tresspassing?You can't just up decide to cut somebody's grass without permission.
Posted by !!!!! at 11:24 AM
Two lots and all these complaining homeowners can't get together and cut them? Even though their worried about the children. Lazy and whiny comes to mind.
Posted by Iggy at 10:43 AM
Here is a solution to the homeowners that gripe about said overgrown lot: Mow it yourself instead of being a whiny Winifred about it. Be proactive in your community and help out instead of being part of the problem by letting it just be! Criminy, people! It isn't rocket science.
Posted by Lawny at 9:35 AM
Most Popular
- Viewed
- Emailed
- Commented
- A New Piedmont Newnan: Women's services prepared for more births
- 10th Annual Run for Angels: Event bigger, better than ever
- Education Notes: Phi Delta Kappa scholarship available to future educators
- Special Olympics: Cowetan named Georgia's Female Athlete of the Year
- Around town: Blood drives scheduled
- Where does Newnan see itself in 10 years?
- Stewart finished 11th grade at Warner
- Respected Coweta baseball coach, ex-Brave remembered
- Search dogs find drugs in vehicle at gas station
- 10 headed to jail: Cell phones, community service don't mix
- Former Atlanta Brave, area baseball coach Rick Behenna dies at 51
- Respected Coweta baseball coach, ex-Brave remembered
- McMurry candidate to replace Keeble as Coweta judge
- A New Piedmont Newnan: Women's services prepared for more births
- Hospital bringing new physicians, medical practices
- Piedmont Newnan Hospital kicks off $8 million capital campaign
- Obituary: Mrs. Mary Frances Banks Storey
- We encourage a daylong visit to the $100 million National Infantry Museum
- Domestic violence increases in Coweta, local shelter trying to help
- Prep Wrestling: Newnan shines on Senior Night
- Hwy. 34 Bypass: Another six months needed to complete widening job
- Where does Newnan see itself in 10 years?
- Smith: Lobbyists not an influence
- Proposed legislation aimed toward curbing metal thefts
- McMurry candidate to replace Keeble as Coweta judge
- Pastor's Corner: Part 2 – Is Calvinism biblical?
- Montana's mom tells her story of an autisic child
- Palmer enters race for judge
- Labor officials will work with employers on claims issues
- We encourage a daylong visit to the $100 million National Infantry Museum
Our banks make up maintain the properties
9/14/2010
Link To This Comment
The banks do keep up the properties once they get them through foreclosure. It sometimes takes a long time for the process to be complete. If you see an agent's sign in the yard call them and give them a heads up that the lawn needs some attention.
Posted by Agent at 11:57 PM