Over the past couple of years, our neighborhood has slowly watched the grandest house on the block, fall increasingly into disrepair and now into a desolate rotting shell. The property owner has been repeatedly been warned by Oakland's Blight Enforcement Department to clean up.
Then one day early this year, the neighborhood lit up with hope. The owner returned, started caring for the yard and grounds, and then proceeded to begin what appeared to be a renovation project. The owner came in a demolished the interior, leaving only the studs. Then they stripped off the roof. They carted tons of debris and it was great to think for a moment that the owner was going to finally invest and improve the property and this great house.
That was in August. It is now November and nothing has changed: over 50% of the windows of the house are broken, another 25% are bordered up, there is a huge gaping hole in the side of the house from an old fire, debris and garbage is still piled up along the side of the house, the house is without a curb, and the lawn completely overgrown and ridden with weeds.
Oh yeah, and the house still has no roof. And guess what happened yesterday? The rainy season officially began. Thanks for that. Now the house will begin mildewing and rotting - further blighting the neighborhood with a house that is literally falling apart.
But why? What on earth could be the owner's motive? Are they simply lazy? Do they not care? What on earth could they possibly have to gain?
Well apparently, the law provides property owners, under certain circumstances, to re-zone their property, if for examples, it comes under hardship. Which a derilect house would qualify as.
There are two things that bother me about this situation. The first is the fact that a property owner on our street is exploiting loopholes and weaknesses in the very system designed to protect this neighborhood from people like him. And second, that even if the property is ultimately improved upon, the owner did so in such a way that clearly showed contempt for the rest of the property owners on the street by allowing his property to become a stain on the neighborhood.
If you live in the neighborhood, I implore you to call Oakland's Blight Report Hotline at 510-238-3381. Tell them that you would like to report a violation at 484 Cheney, in Oakland. Tell them that you would like something done about this house now. If they would like to see the house for themselves, send them the photo gallery I set up detailing the issues with the house.
Please, I implore you - we need to do something about this house before it is too late.
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