So…the week that I got no response regarding the absurd rise in my taxes, the shoddy demolition and construction on one of the ruined houses on our block continues.
Here’s what I wrote to the mayor:
Dear Mr. Mayor,
We’ve met on a number of occasions regarding education matters (I’m part of the team that started the Workshop School). I’m writing about a neighborhood matter.
I have lived on the 4700 block of Hazel Avenue for 19 years. It is outside the Penn catchment area.
My taxes are supposed to triple as my house is assessed at $150k more than it could possibly be worth.
Two recent events:
1. No one at the Office of Property Assessment will tell me anything more than my initial appeal has been denied. They told my neighbor that they didn’t have time to read the documentation we sent. Frustrating that a house is evaluated as worth MORE than many houses in the Penn Catchment, putting me in a position where I can’t afford my taxes because of a school my children cannot attend. Don’t get me wrong, like most good liberals I would happily pay more in taxes for our schools, but fair is fair.
2. On September 6th I reported the demolition and construction that was occurring on a house on my block. It is a full gut of the building. (4721 Hazel Ave). They are tracking construction dust (Lead? Asbestos?) everywhere. They have no permits. Now they’ve begun re-construction. Still no permits. Still no response from L&I.
With a block that has exactly nine owner occupied homes out of forty-four buildings, we are struggling to build a community. It is a great block, one that I’m raising my children on, one that’s four blocks from the public school I helped start. It’s a block where my son and I delivered signs for both of your campaigns.
A little help here would be greatly appreciated. A phone call from someone at OPA (I’ve left multiple messages and exchanged emails and gotten nothing) would be very helpful. L&I might want to address illegal and un-permitted construction fairly quickly.
I appreciate your help.
Sincerely,
