INC NEWS - question regarding city agencies

[bragin at nc.rr.com]

No, i have not. I don't know which agency to have my call directed to. That's why i wrote to the relevant department heads first. Since all three have disclaimed responsibility, i can't imagine how a One-Call request will be answered.. But i may go ahead and place one just to get it in the system.

Barry Ragin
---- Reyn Bowman <Reyn at Durham-cvb.com> wrote: 

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Have you tried going through "Durham One Call"...

-----Original Message-----
From: inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org [mailto:inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org] On Behalf Of bragin at nc.rr.com
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 9:29 AM
To: inc-list at rtpnet.org
Subject: INC NEWS - question regarding city agencies

Hi all - there is a rental property on my block that has raised some questions. After having to evict his last tenants, the owner has allowed the property to sit unoccupied since October 2006. Fair enough. It's his property, and if that's what he wants to do with it i suppose he can.

The question is, about 6-8 weeks ago, he hired a contractor to do some exterior work. The contractor has busted up the driveway, removed the front porch, and opened up some gaping holes in the brickwork just above the foundation. 

And not returned for 6 weeks. I've left a message with the contractor trying to find out what his plans are for finishing the project, but it has not yet been returned. I've also emailed the directors of Neighborhood Improvement Services, City and County Planning, and City and County Inspections, trying to determine which if any city agency would have jurisdiction in not allowing this property to sit in a state of disrepair for much longer. I've heard back from Planning and NIS that this is not their responsibility, but have not yet heard back from Inspections. 

I was wondering if the collective wisdom of this group would be able to suggest an answer to the questions, first, which agency is the appropriate one to contact, and second, what other courses of action are available. Our previous attempts to dialog with the property manager and property owner (who lives in Massachusetts) have not yielded any results.

I'm attaching photos of the house in its current condition. In case they don't go through, you can view them here:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v181/bragin/neighborhood/1700Shawnee1.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v181/bragin/neighborhood/1700Shawnee2.jpg

Barry Ragin
1706 Shawnee St.

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