When the grass is always taller
It doesn't take a Mrs. Kravitz to let the neighbors know a house on the block has been abandoned. It's the 8-inch-tall grass and weeds that often give it away.
And with the increase in foreclosed homes and unfinished construction projects, suburban neighborhoods are seeing properties that would rival a prairie restoration project.
Beyond being an eyesore, an overgrown yard becomes a health and safety issue. Its weeds plague allergy sufferers. The area becomes a habitat for undesirable rodents and insects. And it could signal to hoodlums seeking a haven that a house stands empty.
It affects the entire neighborhood.
Experience tells us that when something doesn't bode well for property values, town leaders tend to hear about it. Indeed, most suburbs require homeowners by ordinance to keep their properties looking good. But when a home has no resident, who's going to mow the lawn? And who pays for it to be done? We certainly hope it's not the taxpayers.
Some towns have begun to crack down. Green Oaks and Round Lake Park recently stepped up efforts to identify and fine those responsible for overgrown yards. But the tough part often is determining exactly who owns a foreclosed property.
Schaumburg has struggled to track down owners, at times sorting through a series of property transfers to find an out-of-state financial institution. The village now requires owners of abandoned buildings to leave contact information for maintenance issues.
In Arlington Heights, a sign is posted on the land. After seven days, if no action is taken, the village intervenes. Then, if an owner doesn't pay the mowing costs - plus a $50 service fee - the village can put a lien on the property.
Wheeling plans to update its code this month. If a homeowner refuses to fix a problem, the village will clean up the yard, then charge the homeowner. There's also a hotline for reporting an overgrown yard.
Barrington is taking a different approach. Trustees will vote soon on allowing village workers to perform emergency landscape maintenance without an owners' permission. Concerns about the spread of the emerald ash borer prompted the proposal.
Sometimes nearby residents themselves step in with a mower, and we applaud them. It's the ultimate in neighborliness.
A well-manicured lawn is an icon of suburban America. Those who take pride in their blades of glory and their neighborhood as a whole shouldn't be needlessly burdened with the blemishes of foreclosure - much less pay for the solutions. As Wheeling Village President Judy Abruscato recently told reporter Sheila Ahern, "It's our job to be concerned about everything. The little things aren't less important than the big things because they can be taken care of faster."
These towns are doing the right thing. Little costs add up to bigger costs, and taxpayers shouldn't be left holding the bag.