The Tale Of Foreclosures And Abandoned Houses

In South Lyon and Lyon Township those who paint and fix “For Sale” sign posts are doing brisk business this summer. The lawns of foreclosed and abandoned homes are dotted with these beauty spots.

It is a bleak story from the start of this year to July 20^th where 46 units have foreclosed according to numbers released by Oakland County Equalization Department. In summer these numbers are chilling. 1.4% out of Oakland County’s total of 3,389 houses is stained with foreclosure.

Unsold abandoned houses are creating another type of problems. The overgrown lawns and choked drains invite anti socials. The situation is grave. Local authorities are pressurizing the property owners to trim the overgrowth and shovel the sidewalks. The officials are acting within the law because South Lyon and Lyon Township have ordinances against allowing growth of harmful weeds and tall grasses. First the property owners are notified but if they fail to respond then the authorities appoint contract labour to take do the job.

Lyon Township itself accounts for 21 foreclosed properties and uncared for overgrown desolate boarded houses have become a major source of headache for the city fathers. Never before has such a situation been witnessed. The local authorities are in a fix as they are having to fund these maintenance operations to keep the area clean, clear and safe. Amanda Schmidt, enforcement officer of the Township office is about 6 feet tall. She claims to have a trying time visiting abandoned plots where the grass reaches up to her chin! The local law prescribes that the grass must be kept at a level below 12”. For other house owner’s association the maximum level mark is 8”. If the owners fail to comply with the warnings from the authorities as regards maintenance then the latter does the work but passes on the bill to them which is $300 for the first hour and $150 for the subsequent hours.

The scene is eerie. The departing owners leave behind trash and junk stagnating in the yards. One house door was open and when the officials walked in they found piles of discarded medicines and drugs. Joe Veltri of the South Lyon building department recounts that although he has been dealing with property matters for the last 15 years he has never had had to handle this sort of an unprecedented situation.

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