District 9 Code Enforcement Seminar
Presented by
Council Member Felicia A. Moore
Assistant Dustin R. Hillis
Introduction
• What is the status of Code Enforcement in District 9?
• How can our community members get involved in the Code
Enforcement process in order to positively influence their
neighborhoods & NPUs?
• Council Member Moore has made Code Enforcement a top priority for
our district. Code Enforcement & Special Projects Assistant Dustin
Hillis was hired in February 2015 to focus on improving code
enforcement in the district.
• We are currently following around 400 properties in the District with
active Code Enforcement cases.
Today’s Plan
• Council Member Felicia Moore: Opening & Introduction
▫ State of the District & Our Neighborhoods/NPUs
• Dustin Hillis: Why I Am Here & Overview of the Process
▫ How Did I Get Involved?
▫ Overview & Steps of the Code Enforcement Process
▫ What Have I Learned?
• Council Member Felicia Moore: Closing
▫ What’s Next?
▫ Q&A/ Concerns
State of the District
• Your District 9 City Council Office is currently following around 400 code
enforcement cases in the district.
• In March & April of this year, every neighborhood in District 9 was
surveyed for severe violations. Cases already active were followed-up
on, and MANY new cases were initiated due to this survey.
• This initial survey focused on open/vacant structures, junk vehicles, and
severe cases of overgrowth and junk/trash/debris.
State of
Our Neighborhoods
• Out of around 400 total cases, about 275 are
open/vacant (over two-thirds).
• Our area has benefited greatly from increased
Code Enforcement budget in FY15. The budget
was increased by 80% for FY16. Code
Enforcement has demo’d 30 properties in D9
in the past year with many more to come
within the next year.
• Corrections is using inmates to secure
structurally sound houses with metal
boarding. DPW is cutting properties where the
only issue is overgrowth. Both of these are
actively occurring in our neighborhoods.
Neighborhood/NPU
Total
Cases
COURT In
Rem
Demo’d/
C&C
Grove Park (J)
117
23
18
17
Center Hill (J)
59
13
13
5
G
86
10
24
11
Bankhead/Bolton (H)
79*
?
0
0
Collier Heights (I)
35
8
6
0
Bankhead (K)
11
2
0
0
C&D
10
0
2
4
Neighborhood Surveys/Audits
•
In 2011, the City commissioned a landmark residential
parcel survey, known as the Strategic Community
Investment (SCI) Report. It consists of a comprehensive
overview of observed housing vacancy, parcel
conditions and neighborhood analysis.
•
Our office used this report as a basis for ranking D9
neighborhoods from the ones that need the most Code
Enforcement attention to the least. This was done by
compiling the number of “Deteriorated” and “Poor”
structures in each neighborhood according to the
report. The SCI Report maps were then used to ensure
every street was audited.
•
The report was conducted in 2012, so we knew
conditions were possibly worse in 2015.
How Did I Get Involved?
• Moved to Atlanta in Summer 2011 and immediately noticed the blight
in and surrounding my neighborhood (Riverside).
• Quickly educated myself on the process for the City of Atlanta and
subsequently filed complaints.
• This was at a transitional time for Code Enforcement, which was being
moved from Buildings to APD and had new leaders being appointed.
• Organized & prioritized cases then requested neighborhood walk
through with Council Members and Code Enforcement Commander.
• There were over 50 complaints when I started & four years later, <10!
Overview of Process
• Violation found by citizen (open/vacant, junk/trash/debris, overgrowth, junk vehicle, etc.) and
submitted to Code Enforcement (phone, fax, e-mail, or online form).
• Case is assigned to an inspector and initial inspection date. Once inspected and violations
confirmed, a notice is sent to the last known owner stating compliance must be achieved within x
(3-45) days, and that the property will then be reinspected.
• Reinspection date: officer again visits the property, if ALL violations are not corrected, a citation is
written. A codes officer attempts to serve the citation if owner resides within the City of Atlanta, if
unsuccessful or outside City of Atlanta, it is mailed to the local sheriff. If citation is served, a court
date is set. If it is unserved, it as marked as such.
• For properties where owners cannot be located or served notice/citation, the case is then sent to
Compliance Resolution to begin the In Rem process, which will administer nuisance abatement
(cutting overgrowth), cleaning & closing the property (if open/vacant but <51% deterioration), or
demolition (51% or greater deterioration).
What Did I Learn As a Neighborhood Advocate?
• More effective code enforcement was, and still is, needed in our city.
• Your best tools are ORGANIZATION, PRIORITIZATION, and
COMMUNICATION.
• Many people will respect and love what you’re doing for your
neighborhood, but there are always the few who will not.
• You must be dedicated to your cause, compliance does not come
quickly and patience is truly a virtue in this process.
• Get to know your neighborhood/NPU codes officer and their area/field
supervisors. Meet with them regularly to discuss issues and progress.
My Transition to Public Service
• Appointed to new Code Enforcement Commission in September 2014.
• Recruited by Council Member Moore in February 2015.
• Able to take my success, knowledge, and relationships from my work
in Riverside over the past four years and apply it to all of District 9.
• Immediately went to work by conducting a code enforcement survey
of every neighborhood in District 9.
• Since starting with Council Member Moore, we have been able to
comply over 60 properties, have seen over 70 properties to court, and
have seen 30 blighted properties demolished.
Code Enforcement in FY15
• Increased Code Enforcement Activity by 308%
• Entered into agreement with VPS for installation services to support
clean and close activities (labor by Corrections).
• Increased staff capacity in the Solicitor’s Office to address caseload.
• Initiated Judicial In Rem initiative in the Westside TAD (8 properties in
English Ave/Vine City.
• Worked w/ Center for Community Progress to complete a review of
city’s existing tools to address vacant/abandoned properties.
• Total funding of $3.78 million/339 properties addressed.
Properties Demolished in D9 2014-2015
• D: 2167 Main St
• G: 1676 Abner Ct, 1286 Gun Club Rd, 1329 Gun Club Dr, 1030
Hollywood Rd, 1148 Lotus Ave, 2652 Brown St, 954 Hightower Rd, 1093
Wedgewood Dr, 2219 Abner Pl, 2220 Addison Pl, 1527 Ferno Dr, 2448
Main St
• J: 672 Commercial Ave, 2519 Oldknow Dr, 1950/2046 Lois Pl, 1842
Markone, 1603 Hasty Pl, 33 Mildred Pl, 1695 North Ave, 1884/1888
Markone St, 1428 Blyss Ave, 1805 Charles Pl, 1853 Madrona St, 1907
Baker Rd, 1036 Cato St, 577 Holly St
Code Enforcement FY16
• Request for additional staff for the Solicitor’s Office and APD Code
Enforcement Section to support city-wide Judicial In Rem (100
properties).
• Amend existing Housing Code to add civil process as an additional
enforcement tool.
• Undertake “Cost of Blight” study with Center for Community Progress
and Georgia Tech ($60,000).
• Continue VPS/Corrections program to clean & close properties.
• Increase DPW activity (overgrowth cutting) to 240 properties.
• Total funding $5.72 million/515 properties to be addressed.
Strategic Approach to Addressing
Vacant & Abandoned Properties
• Fix It Up: Aggressively issue citations for non-compliance.
• Pay It Up: To the extent that any public funds (direct or indirect) are
expended; insist on full payment as secured by a first priority lien.
• Give It Up: In the event of non-payment, force the transfer to a new,
responsible owner.
• Recover taxpayer-funded demolition of blighted structures.
• Agencies/stakeholders for Judicial In Rem: APD, City Solicitior, Planning
& Community Development, Finance (Office of Revenue), Fulton Tax
Commissioner, Fulton County/City of Atlanta Land Bank Authority,
Invest Atlanta.
D9 Properties To Possibly Be Addressed in FY16
• C/D: 1793 Warren Ct, 1817 Williams Pl, 1928 Grandview Ave
• G: 982/984/985 Ada Ave, 1149 Gun Club Dr, 1036 Hollywood Rd,
1095/1162/1392 Northwest Dr, 1171 Wedgewood Dr, 2218 Ajax Dr,
2430 Clarissa Dr, 2753 Browntown Rd, 1535/1600 Ferno Dr, 2710/2782
Mango Cir, 1745 Givens Ave, 2418 Main St NW, 1738 Mary George Ave
• I: 2921 Allegro Dr, 1015 Callahan St, 859 Kings Grant Dr, 870 Venetta Pl,
733 Waterford Rd, 928 Woodmere Dr
D9 Properties To Possibly Be Addressed in FY16
• J (Grove Park): 1930 Baker Rd, 1589 Donald Lee Hollowell, 614/657
Elinor Pl, 510/517 Elmwood Rd, 510/709 Emily Pl, 950 Hollywood Rd,
28/45/63 Johnson Rd, 2020 Lois Pl, 1720/1847 Madrona, 28/38
Mildred Pl, 1985 North Ave, 873 North Eugenia Pl
• J (Center Hill): 2468 Bellview Ave, 863 Capitol View Ave, 833/898
Center Hill Ave, 565/569/631 Commercial Ave, 632 Gary Rd, 900 Hall
St, 845 North Grand Ave, 850 Oak St, 821 Peyton Rd, 892 Ridge Ave,
661/676 South Grand Ave, 585 Woods Dr
What’s Next?!?
• We will be setting up future meetings with each neighborhood/NPU
that will focus on code enforcement and other quality of life issues.
• Neighborhood walk-throughs with city department officials.
• Establish a “Top Ten” or “Dirty Dozen” list for each neighborhood so the
Council Office and Code Enforcement can focus on those, while still
making sure all complaints are progressing appropriately.
Questions & Concerns ???
drhillis@atlantaga.gov