admin @ Tue, 2005-10-25 16:46
— maybe less — Hana Stith's appearance won't intimidate anybody. But, as the director of Fort Wayne's African/African-American Historical Museum, she knows history's lessons about the need to confront ugliness and complacency.
So, for the last several months, she's doggedly been trying to get city officials to do something about the blight that covers too much of the city's southeast side. The fact that nothing has been done so far exposes a problem. The fact that some relief may be coming soon — but perhaps not as much as Stith expects — exposes a problem, too.
"This has been going on for almost a year," Stith said disgustedly as she stood in front of what is supposedly a used car lot in the 5400 block of Decatur Road. "I live right down the street and have to pass it every day on my way to work. I don't think this would be allowed to happen anywhere else (but on the south side). I called the city, but they said they needed an address before they would come out. But there's no address on the building."
The sign on the building advertises "late-model cars and trucks by appointment only," but a faded handwritten sign on the chain-link fence seems closer to the truth: "We buy junk cars and trucks." Directly across the road from the store that Scott's Food & Pharmacy spent $2 million to make over a year ago, the lot is littered with a boat, small camping trailer and cars in various states of repair and assembly. And even though the lot is perhaps the worst offender on the block, it is not the only eyesore.
Even Tom Bandor, who runs the Neighborhood Code department responsible for cleaning up such messes, admits the junk-car lot violates the law. So why has Stith's one-woman campaign been unsuccessful?
"Zoning is a strange animal. The Planning Department must decide what is in violation," Bandor said. "We've been waiting for months for them to decide what to do with this. They said, ‘Our plate is full. We don't have the time.' " When Stith's latest complaint letter arrived this month - one of a series dating back at least six months - zoning inspectors finally went out and discovered "several obvious but minor" violations, Bandor said. But even when they're corrected - and that could take several more months - Stith isn't likely to be satisfied.
Although cars that don't work or are torn apart will have to be removed, Bandor said it's unlikely the city can do much about the weeds growing around the fence or the area's "look of disarray." The area is zoned for industrial use, but that doesn't allow a junkyard. Although the city's weed ordinance can force property owners to keep lawns mowed, it's not intended to prevent scattered weeds growing along fences, Bandor said.
As president and CEO of Scott's Foods, Dick Bergman has more resources at his disposal than most small-business owners. But his challenges and expenses are proportionately larger, too. Which is why his words - and commitment to the Decatur Road store - should shame others in the area.
"I was concerned about the Decatur Road store and, what I could do, I did," he said. "I can't do anything about what other people do with their property, but everybody should be concerned about the area they operate in."
Unfortunately, too many people - in all parts of town - are content to live or do business in buildings and surroundings that devalue life for everyone. And, no, the lack of money isn't to blame. The lack of respect for self and others is.
But when the eyesore in question is in a part of town that already has more than its share, the city must do everything possible to reinforce personal determination with a little well-placed coercion when necessary. As Stith's frustration proves, more willingness, more manpower, or both are needed.
On that score, at least, good news is on the way. Planner Ben Roussel said the Planning Department will hire someone in January whose primary job is to enforce zoning violations. "Until now, there's been a gap (between complaints and enforcement)," he said. "We weren't set up to be proactive."
I called the number listed for the junk-car lot. The number - surprise! - "is not in service." Hard to make an appointment to buy a car that way.
But, according to Wayne Township land records, the property is owned by David and Jean Seel who live in Aboite Township. Seel said he had rented the property to S&R Towing - which is not listed in the phone book - "and I haven't been by there in a long time. I guess I'll have to get on my tenant."
If he doesn't, let's hope Bandor will - as soon as possible.
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