Inquirer: Fence is an eyesore, but can the city do anything about it?
As we have pointed out in this space in the past, just because something is ugly doesn't mean something legally has to be done about it.
Today we apparently have another instance of this, but it will warrant a little more digging.
Concerned Reader Aubrey called to say he is sick and tired of riding past a terribly dilapidated privacy fence that runs along West Britt David Road between Airport Thruway and Sowega Drive.
Aubrey said he has reported the situation to the city, but someone there said the city cannot force the property owners to clean up their act.
"I don't live there, but the people living across the street have got to be mad every time they go outside and look at that," Aubrey said. "It doesn't reflect very well at all on the city."
I drove over to check it out and, yep, that's one ugly piece of fence. Many pickets are missing and it is just falling over almost all the way to the ground in a couple of places.
I know for a fact that replacing a privacy fence isn't cheap. But what's the point of having this fence at all, in the condition it is in?
If the fence is there for security, it's pointless because anyone or anything could walk through the parts that are partially collapsed or where several pickets are missing.
If it's for privacy, well, this fence does for privacy what Miley Cyrus' outfits do for modesty. Not much.
If it's for appearance, well, look at the picture. If the look they're going for is abandoned trailer park chic, then they've nailed it. (So to speak.)
According to city property records, the fence runs along two adjacent lots, one owned by the church on the corner and the other owned by some outfit in Illinois that apparently operates the commercial properties on that lot.
I will confirm this week whether there is nothing the city can do to make the property owners do something about it.
"If they don't want to fix it, then tear it down," Aubrey said. "One or the other, tear it down or fix it."
Update
Who doesn't love a happy ending?
Last week's potentially dangerous situations concerning trees blocking traffic signals didn't last long after a call to Scott Jones, the city's Urban Forestry and Beautification manager. He said he'd send a crew right over and he must have, because the next time I drove by the intersections of Hilton Avenue and Country Club Road and then Country Club Road and Cherokee Avenue, the trees had been neatly trimmed back and the signals clearly visible.
This story was originally published July 26, 2015 at 6:36 PM with the headline "Inquirer: Fence is an eyesore, but can the city do anything about it?."