Description
Please know that I have recently submitted yet another notice to the City and the City Councilors regarding cars, illegal driveways, cementing over grass, entire front yards disappearing, devaluing property and neighboring property, and taking what used to be public parking along the street for the owner's, or tenant's, own personal use. I'm specifically referring to 983-985 Middlesex St. and 990 Middlesex St. I have read other postings on this site regarding this same issue in other areas of our City. Please keep up the good work, and keep sending until someone does his or her job! Your efforts are appreciated!
20 Comments
reporter (Registered User)
Sally (Guest)
Toni (Registered User)
Toni (Registered User)
Toni (Registered User)
Toni (Registered User)
For those who are still monitoring this site, I have an update to the above situation regarding illegal driveways, parking on sidewalks, and loss of curbside parking for neighborhoods.
Please know the owner of 990 Middlesex St has applied for a variance based on a "hardship" though the hardship is not identified. To read more about our response, please cut and paste the links below:
To read the documentation and obtain the download documents,please Click Here-> http://www.trademarkrealtyinc.com/990Middlesex.html
To view the Picture Slide Show, please Click Here-> http://www.trademarkrealtyinc.com/990PictureShow.html
The argument is being shared in case others are experiencing the same situation and are still monitoring this site despite the City of Lowell's decision to discontinue its use.
Good Luck!
LowellResident (Guest)
Toni,
Your documentation and images are really good. The images are striking and convey a lot of information. Lot's of details supports by imagery is very convincing. Please keep updating the progress as I am curious how this turns out.
Who's Kevin Tran's attorney?
This issue provides a lot of information that most people don't get to see. If the variance is rejected I can see how to approach potential problems in the future. Documentation, photos, etc. help build a case. Laws and building codes would be enforced by the City of Lowell.
However, if the variance is accepted, I will use this as a roadmap for future homes I purchase in Lowell. I don't see how any variances would be rejected. In addition, I could do things to my property that clearly affect the "value" of the neighborhood in a negative way while enriching me.
Thank you
Closed Toni (Registered User)
Laws and building codes should be enforced. They are "on the books" for many reason - public safety being one. As for the possibility of accepting this particular variance, I don't see how that would happen.
Are you saying that if they accept this variance, even with the supporting photos, that they'd probably accept any variance? I agree! Why not just allow anyone to do anything? Why have local ordinances at all? Why even HAVE a Board of Appeals - if this owner gets away with this? The photos have been taken over time - 7 years now. And his inconsiderate and careless disregard for his property, its value, and the values of neighboring properties can and must be addressed. This is why I posted it to this site as I know there are other Lowell residents who are just sick and tired of what is happening. We must, as a community, publicly question why the City continues to "look the other way." And, if, by chance, they DO accept his variance, this issue will become even more public. I guarantee that. The web site pages will remain up and published until this issue is rightfully resolved.
Reopened Toni (Registered User)
Jay (Guest)
I agree with everything you have to say about the city, and it's problems with cars, driveways, and parking. The legal, and illegal conversion of single, and two family homes to multiple apts., without a thought to parking is another big issue in the Upper Highlands. Check out Wedge St. and Wilder St.
Slumification ( my term ),for this degrading process of destroying the neighborhoods is proceeding without any interruption from city govt, and as I see they have failed Lowell, and it's people.
Toni (Registered User)
Just an FYI for those who wanted to know the outcome from the Variance meeting. It was, wisely, denied. With that stated, however, I may still bring this issue up to the City Council. We will wait for the spring to see what this person is required to do as it is winter, and we are dealing with mounds and mounds of snow. We also want to wait to see what the City is going to do regarding the two illegal driveways and why they're still there. I will keep this issue open, on this site, for now unless the site's owners wish to delete or close it because the City of Lowell is no longer, officially, monitoring this site.
For new issues, there is a yellow notice bar above directing you to the City Of Lowell's website. Apparently the City's website has provided the ability to notify there, and they monitor that instead now. I do not know if the CIty's website allows people to communicate with one another. In any case, those who are interested in supporting any effort to address these issues may contact me direct. Toni Nicholas, (www.) TradeMark Realty Inc.com
LowellResident (Guest)
Toni,
Congratulations! I'm glad to see that something obviously out of code would be denied by the city.
Did your images and website help during the variance meeting?
Is there any advice you would give to others who may have similar problems, etc.
Toni (Registered User)
All I can say about the images and the website pages is that they acknowledged them and said they saw the pictures. That's what I wanted - the pictures taken over the course of seven years while constantly complaining about what is going on and questioning why it's going on for this long. Since this was only the Variance meeting, and we still don't have an official response from the City, I will probably bring it to the City Council to openly ask "WHY?"
It's unfortunate that the people have to take time and effort out of their day to question why the City isn't doing its job. As mentioned, we'll wait until the spring to see what he is going to rip up and whether he is going to restore the entire area with grass and curb-side parking. I also want to see whether the neighbors will be notified of any order to restore curb-appeal and curb-side parking for the neighborhood. So, we'll wait until spring..
As for anyone else who may be having this issue, yes, I have some advise. Get your pictures ready, compile your supporting documents, and be willing to stand up and fight back! The issues are affecting property values - there's no question. So, stand up and fight back - that's my advice.
Closed a (Guest)
Reopened SUZI (Guest)
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Closed Toni (Registered User)
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