DETROIT – Jennifer Williams sent Local 4’s Shawn Ley an email Friday about the house next door to her on Santa Rosa Drive that has become a remarkable illegal dump in the middle of a busy neighborhood.
What city officials and a clean-up contractor called to the house found was astounding.
The home in the 13000 block has been vacant now for about ten years. The property was taken over by the Detroit Land Bank Authority.
The back yard has been used for years as an illegal dump. The Land Bank Authority’s Craig Fahle says there was a five foot trash layer in the back yard.
Williams says the pile got so high, it broke her fence. A garage collapsed on top of the pile.
Then, there’s the rats.
“Rats everywhere!” said Theodis Garvin. Garvin owns D&D Innovations, the contract crew hired to clean up what’s become a health hazard for the neighborhood.
Williams says she’s called the city to report the dump and has been told in the past the someone would come out from the city to inspect the problem, but no one ever has until she emailed Local 4. Now, the mayor’s office got involved along with the Land Bank and the crew is in its second day of removing furniture, plaster, cut trees and just about everything else you can think of that’s been dumped back there.
How did a back yard of a home on a residential street get dumped on for years without anyone doing anything to stop it?
“Neighbors need to call the police," Orlando Robinson with D&D Innovations said. "Detroit Police are responding to illegal dumping!”
Anyone with a smart phone can also use the “Improve Detroit” app. Snap a photo of the problem, and send it right to the city. The city promises to respond to you as soon as possible.
“Call the Land Bank at 844-DET-DEMO and report any vacant home problems,” the Land Bank’s Fahle said