Potter-Longway group discusses Land Bank properties

The Potter-Longway Neighborhood Association discussed Neighborhood Stabilization Program II (NSP) funds, vacant properties and crime July 19.

Doug Weiland, Genesee County Land Bank executive director, spoke to the group about Land Bank properties in the area and plans for the NSP funds.

Weiland discussed the weed and trash abatement program. Between 18,000 and 20,000 properties are being worked on this summer. Thus far, the program has cleaned up 16,000 properties. Weiland said the program is averaging 10 to 12 tons of trash picked up daily from vacant properties.

"We're not ignoring this area, but it takes a long time to get through a city," Weiland.

NSP funds will be used for demolition and rehabilitation across the city. Between 400 and 500 demolitions will be done with the $25 million grant.

"It sounds like a lot of money," Weiland acknowledged. "But to demolish the 6,000 properties that need to be demolished and to rehabilitate the 4,000 that need to be rehabilitated, we would need $250 million. NSP has given us 10 percent of that."

He said that a third of Flint's properties are abandoned.

Weiland said the Potter-Longway area is a "tipping point area" and will see some houses demolished and rehabilitated, but not as many as other areas of the city in more desperate need of attention. Work will be concentrated in  a  square-mile area that includes 37 Land Bank-owned properties, most acquired through foreclosure. In the area there are about 100 abandoned properties, he said.

Heidi Phaneuf, Land Bank community director, talked about the "neighborhood inventory" to be held over the next two weeks. It will involve driving through neighborhoods and rating the conditions of each house as good, fair or poor. A good property, she explained, is in no need of exterior repairs, while a poor property is dangerous to live in. This data collection will help decide which properties will be rehabilitated.

Phaneuf encouraged the group to take maps and mark properties they think need to be demolished and rehabilitated, and to take note of neighborhood issues that need to be addressed.

Residents complained of juvenile crime, including recent break-ins, vandalism and the destruction of plants in the community garden between Curry Street and Averill Avenue.

A resident asked Police Officer Brian Burdy what can be done in these situations, and if citizen's arrest was an option.

Burdy said citizen's arrest is only possible when the felony has been committed in a person's presence. To avoid liability and violence, the officer recommended deterring criminals with physical presence and gathering photographs and license numbers.

"Kids know the neighborhoods that have an active crime watch and stay out of them," he said.

Burdy sympathized with complaints of slow response time. "I can't tell you if it'll be 10 minutes or 10 hours before we can make it out to respond to a call," he said.

Councilmen Josh Freeman (Ward 4) and Bryant Nolden (Ward 3) told the group about six code enforcement officers who will begin work Aug. 1.

Code ordinances, Freeman explained, have changed. In previous years, notice was given with a number of days to correct the issue and then a fine was issued if the violation had not been corrected. Now, he said, ticketing will be immediate and the fines can increase each day the problem isn't solved. Unpaid tickets will be added to the violator's taxes.

The group will meet next  at 7 p.m. Aug. 16 at Eastwood United Methodist Church on the corner of Whittier and Averill avenues.