I live on that block. A wonderful block, except for that house. It was abandoned in July 2010 after the owner quite unexpectedly passed away. As far as we know, it is not held by the bank. I believe it is a probate situation. I've brought it up at East Shore Management Team meetings; I've contacted LCI; I've been in touch with Sal DeCola (and Arlene DePino, when she was our alderwoman). LCI mowed the property a year ago. Since then, nothing, depsite my efforts. According the Sal DeCola, LCI is very "backed" up with requests. Whatever...

The police have been to the house on a complaint from another neighbor that there were squatters on the property. LCI boarded up a window in the back after that complaint, but that's about it. There have been trees down in the back of the property since Hurricane Irene. And to say the front is blighted is an understatement. By contrast, the property at 20 Pope is vacant but bank-held, and the yard is at least somewhat maintained.

I have no idea what recourse the city has with this property, given that it is a probate situation (or we at least assume it is based on what we have been told). At the very least, the city could probably put a lien on the property for the neglect and subsequent cost to the city to mow/maintain it.

The house is right next to Nathan Hale School (whose property adjacent to the house is terribly maintained, but that's another issue). Kids walk by that house every single day. My kids joke about the "creepy, dead guy's house", but in all reality the house is a risk to them and all the kids of the neighborhood and the school if it is attracting squatters (and God knows who/what else).

The city has a lien on the property.

That is good news.... however, it does not address the issue of blight that plague the neighbors and the neighborhood. This is the root issue. When will that be resolved?

Yes, as PP stated, this is good news, but seriously, someone from the town can send over a worker for a day to mow the grass and throw down some safe pesticides.

LCI spent most of the day there on Friday. The property seems pretty cleaned up for now!

Yes! It can. We have purchased the house closing soon and we wil clean itup as soon as we close. The bank wont allow us to do anything to it untill after the closing.
Freddy mac owns the home and they were supposed to maintain the property.
Hope to have it all cleaned up soon!
sorry for the dealy.

I think I jumped the gun oops! we purchased the house on the corner on townsend. I thought that this was the property you guys were talking about.
sorry I m new here.
;(

Very good to know that scf is such a great way to get things accomplished. That yard was cleaned up in less than a week after
My initial post was made. And it is nice to know the house has been purchased. Looking forward to meeting the new neighbors. Welcome to the neighborhood! You will love Morris Cove.

It seems the yard was cleaned up, by the comments, so I am closing this issue. If the yard gets over-grown again, please post another issue.