HOUSTON — There are still piles of trash left in front yards, due to Hurricane Harvey damage. One home, however, in the city’s Second Ward, can’t blame the hurricane for piles of debris.
Tenants who moved out this past weekend left garbage strewn about for the city to pick up. Neighbors are furious and say it’s an eyesore. The junk includes furniture, appliances, clothing and even cooked food.
The garbage was not even placed in bags.
One resident driving by the yard at the corner of Garrow and Palmer Streets called the mess "unacceptable.”
“Why would you ever do that? It’s making our city look real, real bad," said Kimberly McWashington, the driver.
“Especially with the park right here, with the park right across the street. It is just pitiful," said longtime resident Hilario Razo.
The trash was apparently left by both of the tenants and the new buyer, who already started to rip out flooring and windows blinds.
After KHOU 11 News contacted the listing agent, the people responsible for leaving the mess promised to remove it within a day or two.
The city’s Department of Neighborhoods says property owners are required to remove trash and debris and comply with city codes. Property owners who place heavy trash on the curb prior to the Friday before the scheduled collection can be fined up to $1,000 for the first offense.
The tenants and buyer claim they were under the impression that “heavy pick-up” by the city would be earlier than the scheduled pick-up of May 4. Regular trash pick-up is not until next Monday.
If community members see this kind of trash left in a yard, they should report it to 311. Complaints will be referred to the appropriate department, which will then do an inspection.
In this case, in the Second Ward, the Department of Neighborhood Inspections and Public Service division would schedule that inspection.