SAN ANTONIO- The vacant lot in the 2500 block of Mission Road is across the street from Gilbert Elementary School on the city's South side.
It is a corner lot lined with sidewalks, so the children don't have to walk through it on their way home from school, but according to neighbors, sometimes they do.
"Every now and then, I have seen a couple of kids sitting here or wandering behind the tree with their backpacks," said homeowner Dahlia Solis.
Solis grew up in this neighborhood and she worries the tall grass is creating an environment that is ripe for wrongdoing.
"My main concern is, it's located across the street from the school," Solis said. "Anyone can be a victim."
She remember seeing dead animals on the property, but her worst fear is that someone could be hiding in the brush, waiting to kidnap a child.
A vacant lot that has overgrown vegetation in excess of four feet and that is within 1000 feet of an elementary school is considered a public health and safety emergency.
"You never know who's hanging out," said next door neighbor, Jim Henson.
Henson has seen the property change hands several times, most recently in December.
According to the city's code enforcement division, there have been 8 complaints called in during the last year.
"Every time we go out there we issue a violation notice, the owner complies; the owner cuts his grass," said City of San Antonio Development Services Director, Rod Sanchez.
The reality is, according to neighbors, the owner usually cuts the front portion of the lot, leaving the back overgrown.
"I want the city to once and for all do something about this property," Solis said.
Within 24 hours of the Trouble Shooters bringing residents' concerns to the city, Sanchez department sent a yard crew and made a long term commitment to maintaining this property.
"We're concerned," Sanchez said. "We've looked at it here recently. I think we can do better."
Going forward the city will respond to complaints immediately by issuing a citation, getting the yard mowed, and billing the owner for the work.
Resource: http://news4sanantonio.com
It is a corner lot lined with sidewalks, so the children don't have to walk through it on their way home from school, but according to neighbors, sometimes they do.
"Every now and then, I have seen a couple of kids sitting here or wandering behind the tree with their backpacks," said homeowner Dahlia Solis.
Solis grew up in this neighborhood and she worries the tall grass is creating an environment that is ripe for wrongdoing.
"My main concern is, it's located across the street from the school," Solis said. "Anyone can be a victim."
She remember seeing dead animals on the property, but her worst fear is that someone could be hiding in the brush, waiting to kidnap a child.
A vacant lot that has overgrown vegetation in excess of four feet and that is within 1000 feet of an elementary school is considered a public health and safety emergency.
"You never know who's hanging out," said next door neighbor, Jim Henson.
Henson has seen the property change hands several times, most recently in December.
According to the city's code enforcement division, there have been 8 complaints called in during the last year.
"Every time we go out there we issue a violation notice, the owner complies; the owner cuts his grass," said City of San Antonio Development Services Director, Rod Sanchez.
The reality is, according to neighbors, the owner usually cuts the front portion of the lot, leaving the back overgrown.
"I want the city to once and for all do something about this property," Solis said.
Within 24 hours of the Trouble Shooters bringing residents' concerns to the city, Sanchez department sent a yard crew and made a long term commitment to maintaining this property.
"We're concerned," Sanchez said. "We've looked at it here recently. I think we can do better."
Going forward the city will respond to complaints immediately by issuing a citation, getting the yard mowed, and billing the owner for the work.
Resource: http://news4sanantonio.com
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