Eye On Englewood

Link: http://EyeOnEnglewood.com

After Easter, Springtime breezes through Englewood, warming everyone up for a day or two, giving pause to consider what needs attention around the house or the yard.

But, not only in your own yard; Look around. Englewood has some real issues of obsolete housing, dangerous housing, and neighborhood real estate values that directly affect the City's appeal to younger families, thus its school districts.

Can this aging problem be addressed creatively?

Presently, the City Manager and City Council have promoted liening your property in exchange for the city doing yard and weed clean up. Snow removal might also garner a lien on your home. But, Englewood residents need a better bang for their bucks.

Follow up:

The advantage of the lien scheme "decriminalization," is that residents don’t have to go to court for failing to mow 7” high grass or unpulled weeds. But, this is really a kind of hostile takeover. Because, the downside is that when the house transfers hands, the lien and all its accumulated interest must be paid up front.

Something does need to be done, so what about an idea. What about a second mortgage type of lien for improvement? This type of lien can mean something of lasting value. What about making Englewood's local government serve the people?

What if the City were to take its Development Fund and open it up to residents to fix dilapidated frontages, falling down fences, and dangerous living conditions?

This may be a win-win situation for the neighbors whose home values are compromised by one or two homes in disrepair.

It is a win for the resident who obtains something of lasting value and doesn’t have to pay for it until funds are freed up or the home changes hands.

Englewood is faced with a win-win option to creatively embark on fixing primary neighborhood issues without criminalizing residents in the process. The City’s duty is to repair dangerous conditions, and to protect the public dignity.

The government, installed to serve the people, is given that role of servitude and prevented from taking residents' property or business. Instead, it draws people to Englewood because people like the way Englewood looks and feels.

This has the benefits of an H.O.A., without the limitations. It demands Code Enforcement officers to turn their heads and pull over occasionally when they drive down Englewood streets. It may even make them the good guys.

It puts City resources to better use, returning the value of your tax money to you.