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This is what an absentee landlord does to our city and alleys!
This mess from 418 East 11th Street. Steven Gregory is the landlord and he dumped this in the driveway of the other house behind it because 418 East 11th street does not have a backyard. This is illegal dumping on someone's property.
The second pic is of a dog that the people and landlord has left behind.
The dog is now running the alley and neighborhood! I would like for everyone to call downtown tomorrow to the Mayor's office (948-5333) and ask what is going to be done about this illegal dumping.
Several of neighbors spoke directly to Mr. Gregory and told him that the city would not pick up this mess, and he stated it was not his problem. Also, they asked about the dog and Mr. Gregory replied that he didn't care about the animal and they could call downtown. We have the name of the illegal dumper and I am sure his telephone number and address (can be found)!
Will the city do something about this?
27 comments:
Animal Control is usually fairly rapid with responding to these issues. We had them in my 'hood this past summer and they were there in less than an hour after the call to retrieve a stray that looked real sick....
As luck would have it this is a very timely post. Tomorrow evening the Floyd County Commissioners have on their agenda an Animal Control Ordinance to consider.
It is a fair and just piece of legislation that will give the animal control people the tools to aleviate problems such as this.
At this point, thanks to the State Legislature's repeal of a law that had legislation governing loose animals tacked onto it, there is currently no state law prohibiting them from doing so nor holding anyone responsible for them.
This proposed ordinance will at least rectify that situation in New Albany/Floyd County.
The commissioners meeting is Tuesday December 19th @6PM in the City County Building.
where does slumlord Gregory live? I'd volunteer to help deliver all that trash to his yard.
Same thing I was thinking, Gina -- with TV cameras rolling.
Performance art and activism -- really one and the same. A place to deposit those rats that Ann's been harvesting ... a slum lord's yard for his or her debris ... a few pies in the face of offenders ... nothing to hurt anyone physically, of course.
Could I also suggest a christmas tree at the city-county building decorated with the rats Annie is trapping, maybe some red and green crack pipes? The TV camera's rolling is smart...let's roll!!
If he cleans it up, the worst they can do to him is fine him $100.
But we don't need higher fines or a city court to collect them.
And if he does it again the next day, we can hit him with another $100 fine. That should break him.
But we don't need a rental licensing program. I'm sure losing the right to rent property in New Albany wouldn't be a deterrent at all.
Gina,
You & I are going to have to disagree on this one.
Yes we do need a rental control program in order to enable us to track down the property owners who like it or not, are ultimately respsonsible for their property.
We need a city court as well in order for the city to be able to retain the monies that it levies in fines! Otherwise, if it gets collected at all, it goes to the state coffiers and New Albany gets nothing for its efforts!
Gina,
I apologize! My previous comment was directed at Bluegills entry!
My bad for trying to read when I first wake up!
Sorry about that!
The Mayor should personally call Mr. Gregory and let him know this is unacceptable and illegal. I've heard they are acquainted.
I think the media is a strong tool, and one worth using, but I also think we should give the powers that be an opportunity to do their jobs correctly and expediently. If they do not, I have my photos, records and paper trail, and I'll be happy to join the rest of you and speak with the media regarding unresolved problems.
Isn't 2007 an election year?
Ceece, the link's not working for me, but I just passed CM Price's yard couch yesterday.
He'll say that way back circa his first year in offcie, he was very excited about cleaning up rental properties -- so inspired, so motivated, that he pursued the matter for, say, about five and a half minutes before dropping the subject and never initiating it again.
So, are we crazy to expect that responsible owners -- generally, CM Price is one -- of rental properties might see it in their interest to discipline the irresponsible? Or is it impossible that self-reform could ever occur?
I would think that the callous disregard for the law and the animal's welfare displayed by Mr. Gregory would warrant a full inspection of the property at 418 as well as any others he and his family own.
If the building commissioner's office is still sticking with it's ridiculous policy of inspecting based on complaints only, we need to pinpoint the Gregorys' properties and file complaints about every one of them with any visible sign of code violations.
Well, I hate to disappoint you, but Mr. Bldg Commissioner does NOT inspect based on complaints--he gives you that excuse at first, then when you do make a formal complaint, another excuse is pulled from the handy-dandy "What Can I Say to Avoid Having To Do Anything?" book they have downtown.
We've known all along that "Clean Up New Albany" should be the campaign issue -- the litmus test -- for the 2007 election cycle.
But think back to the recently concluded mid-term elections. Did any local candidates embrace the specifics of a position anywhere close to what we're suggesting?
I can't think of one. Can you?
By extension, who'll be the candidates in 2007 to take what apparently must be a very bold step in advocating cleanliness, and an even bolder step in supporting specific planks of a cleanliness platform?
I'll let the discussion continue here, and there will be a full posting of this comment for tomorrow.
Until then, what would five specific planks of a cleanliness platform be?
Phyllis Thomas, Republican candidate for the 1st District County Council seat, was the only candidate to my knowledge that mentioned clean up at all and she offered no specifics.
Potential Planks:
A rental inspection/licensing program
Legal staff whose sole purpose is ordinance enforcement
A total revamping of the building commissioner's office, including all new employees
A fine structure that's of high enough scale to actually act as a deterrent
A city court to to expedite the prosecution of offenders and to keep fine revenue in the city
Local dollars budgeted for redevelopment. That amount is currently zero.
Much more than the measily $7,000 dollars a year total the city currently spends on historic preservaion.
A scientific study of land use and value in the city in order to objectively strategize where to implement resourcres first
1. Promise to keep street and alley clean by (insert church)that I have attended all my life.
2. Promise to keep street and alley clean where I have lived in New Albany all my life.
3. Promise to keep street and alley clean by Joe Bob's house.
4. Promise to keep street and alley clean by Jim Bob's house.
5. Promise to keep street and alley clean by Bob Bob's house.
The above is obviously not what I want to see/hear but am afraid that is what we will get. Unless we can get Bluegill to run.
I just went through some of my paperwork to be sure that I was correct--Gregory Management LLC, Georgetown IN, is listed on James Garner's CFA-4 Schedule A-5 Report of Receipts and Expenditures of a Political Committee, with a Direct Contribution of $1,400.00. I wonder why someone who cares so little about New Albany that they trash the alleys would make such a generous donation?
I also have a list of Gregory Family Properties LLC from the Township Assessor's office. They own, or owned at the time, 57 properties. I have all the addresses.
Where is Gregory properties office? I still want to find Gregory's home and see if we can have a dump party there. anyone know where Mr King of the Slumlords presumably tidy suburban residence is?
bluegill for mayor!!!
I have the address for Gregory Management, but I wouldn't advocate dumping there, as tempting as it sounds. What I would advocate is some good investigative journalism into the relationships between the Gregorys and local politicians. I know the Tribune reads the blogs--wonder if they want to take this on?
Agreed that some journalism on the topic would be nice.
Annie, I wonder if that list of 57 might include the 22 properties that were recently auctioned off by the Sheriff. We could cross-reference to see.
Since those 22 alone were enough to warrant the creation of a problem properties map, a photo essay of the remaining properties with captions highlighting applicable code violations (if any) might be a nice item to deliver to Officer Badger, the Building Commissioner, and the Board of Public Works for futher action.
It would give the relevant authorities ample opportunity to begin addressing the problem or, alternatively, would highlight their unwillingness to do so. The Tribune could report results, either way.
It would also be interesting for The Tribune to explore Officer Badger's violation reports in an effort to identify and publish the names of any repeat offenders so that the community could recognize who, if anyone, is significantly contributing to the problem.
Ceece,
Unfortunately, $7,000 is correct. Unless you count Redevelopment's federally funded home repair program for which there are income restrictions and egregious regulations, the city budgets no money other than the Historic Preservation Commission's $7,000-a-year line item for preservation efforts.
It's my understanding that the HPC has been proactive in seeking additional historic designations and/or certifications that may help qualify us for additonal outside funds but, with barely enough seed money to even contract for administrative assistance, it's difficult to say the least.
Nine volunteers, seven thousand dollars, and hundreds of historic properties - not exactly an agressive way to deal with what even a casual visitor identifies as one of New Albany's most marketable assets.
The worst aspect of it may be that they have no money to hire their own legal representation, leaving them at the mercy of the city's part-time attorney for enforcement purposes. Their cases generally end up in an unattended pile along with any number of other enforcement situations.
The lack of general code enforcement is a detriment to preservaion efforts as well. The large majority of homes in need of enforcement in the near-downtown neighborhoods are historic in nature.
We have the type of housing stock- arranged in such a way as to promote a strong sense of community, diversity, environmental sustainablity, physical fitness, AND FISCAL CONSERVATISM- that people in other parts of the country are spending billions of dollars to replicate. Our city government is inexcusably pissing it away house by house via attrition by neglect.
Which reminds me of that program in Illnois whereby a large sign with the slumlords named was planted LEGALLY on their property - the ole' public shame routine.
Due to personal family health problems the past several weeks, I haven't been online, and I just saw this and I believe the meeting was about 8 hours ago.
Apologies to highwayman (LW) for not returning your phone call a couple of weeks back.
Just because someone gives a $1400 political donation there should be NO turning the other cheek when ordinances are repeatedly violated. $1400 is nothing when compared to the effect that these neglected properties are having on overall property values, and how any visitors to the city view New Albany as a whole. I agree that The Tribune should look into this. I also agree that local TV (Troubleshooter) should be asked to do a report on the trash problem, the properties that are in dis-repair, and possibly confront the Gregory Brothers on camera. In Annie's comment she mentioned that the Gregory Brothers have 57 rental properties. I would like to see a new fine structure imposed to the tune of $250 per day, or $7500 per month..per property until the problem is cleared. With 57 properties, the total fine imposed for all 57 properties for one month would be $427,500. I would bet that the properties would be cleaned up very soon if the Gregory Brothers were faced with this. Also, the total fines collected could be poured into a local redevelopment fund, and also to help fund a legal staff a City Court, and even street repair/paving. I also agree that the Building Commissioner's office should be revamped..including personnel, and rental housing inspection quarterly should be part of their function. I also hope that the Floyd County Commissioners passed the Animal Control Ordinance that was being considered.
In answer to g.coyle's question where the Gregory brothers live, I found this on AT&T's "Anywho.com" Directory Assistance site;
Gregory, David
1512 Pirtle Dr
Georgetown, IN 47122
812-923-1876
&
Gregory, Stephan
5731 Hillside Cir
Georgetown, IN 47122
812-944-2319
A lot of properties owned here; a lot of them are in foreclosure; a lot of past due sewer bills still pending (though effort was made to pay some); last we heard from Mr. Gregory -- he was moving his businesses (all) out of New Albany. We are 2 unfriendly and nonconducive to business (their words, not ours).
Hey great work again! I love your site. As soon as I get some good pics coming in, and some good comments coming in my little blog,
Newalbanyeyesores.blogspot.com will be pretty much soley dedicated to this type of problem.
I would like to get to the point that I am sending out eyesore of the month awards to the registered owners and such!
Keep up the great blog, and I hope you all visit mine and help me get it rolling!
Thanks for the comments, Steve.
A couple of thoughts:
First, those with large complexes and any sort of reasonable business acumen are generating larger profits. Given the typically low rental inspection fees charged per unit in a lot of municipalities, a rental inspection program would in no way hamper their ability to continue generating substantial profit. It's also not uncommon for those complex owners to own several other smaller properties that are, at times, problematic.
Their argument is largely hollow and only really serves to cut breaks to those who are already profiting from the system on a larger scale. If the fee per unit is applied equally to everyone, it is fair.
Some landlords will undoubtedly clamor that they'll have to pass the expense on to the renter in an attempt to get their tenants to vote against an ordinance or politican but that, too, is generally bogus given the relatively small amount of money at stake. A $50 annual or semi-annual license/inspection fee and a $25-a-month rent increase simply don't compute. However, if you were to ask the average renter if they'd be willing to spend the actual $2-4 a month to ensure that their landlord was regularly checked without risk of retaliation, the answer may be very different.
I understand the political realities involved, but politicians are on some level going to have to figure out how to stand up to that kind of pressure if they hope to be successful with any sort of reform. Their unwillingness to do so is at least partially responsible for getting us in this mess in the first place. There are far more renters and single family homeowners with investments at stake than there are apartment complex and multiple property owners.
Second, there are models of licensing programs from around the country that take large complexes into account. For example, a certain percentage of units in a complex, randomly chosen by the city, could be inspected each year to keep general tabs on the place. It's a compromise with its own inherent inequities but it's worked elsewhere.
BTW, do you know if Mr. Gregory was fined for his dumping or if he was just made to clean it up?
For the record, there are some in our midst who are working diligently on such an ordinance.
We are researching what other municipalities have put in place, paying close attention to the fair & equal aspect, and most importantly, taking great care to draft a piece of legislation that will stand up in court.
Our intent is not to penalize those who are responsible property owners but rather to insure that irresponsible practioners are held to task for their actions/inactions.
The end goal being that New Albany becomes a clean, safe, and prosperous city to live & invest in.
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