Things I would like to change about Cornhill

[PAT]

Landlords (who do not live here and will not read this) need to be
more concerned with the condition of their houses and to whom they
choose to rent. I am a renter at the same for almost 7 years. I have
seen the properties nearest me change tenants at the rate of 3 or 4
different ones per year. Whenever there are "good " tenants, they move
on because the property does not meet their expectations. If the
landlords treated their properties more like their own home, they
would not have the turn over rate. Many of these changes are simple to
make. For example they need to have specific rules spelled out in
their leases that address pet noise, pet clean up, loud parties, yard
and porch "etiquette" and refuse disposal. Property values are
seriously effected by the lack of respect for these issues. Landlords
would be protecting their own property values by paying more attention
to screening and educating tenants as to what is expected of them.

[JP Bourget]

PAT -- These are all great ideas -- how do you propose we enforce these? I've been a tenant, am a Corn Hill Landlord and owner occupied.  The problem is rules are rules -- do you really expect landlords to evict someone for these things? An eviction costs anywhere from $200-$1000 depending on experience. Also -- i half disagree on the property value -- I don't think they are losing -- but def. not gaining since many rentals are priced by cashflow -- not perceived value. 

Further more -- if a tenant is leaving dog crap around -- that's a city code violation -- maybe kinda a landlord issue -- but a landlord can't really "fine" them for it. They can slap them on the wrist. 

I think your concerns are valid -- how ever I don't think the solution is forcing landlords to write their leases differently (well it is - but not sure that approach will work)

I think it's just like the security committee -- we need to ensure that the landlord or tenant has repercussions by their actions -- there's plenty of city ordinances which the city is happy to enforce if they know about it. Sometimes you have to nag them -- but they will enforce them. Maybe creating a cheat sheet on who to call for what ordinance --

But at the same time -- we do live in a city -- boys will be boys -- maybe the real solution is to solicit investors to come in and fix up these properties, then raise the rent and price out the riff raff and have a landlord who has $$ tied up in a property so they actually care who they rent to. 

JP

--
JP/punkrokk
c:+1-585-319-1706
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/punkrokk
Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jpbourget

[Pat Magill]

I guess I would like landlords to be more discerning with who they rent to and that there aproperties are nice enough for tenants to want to live there. Landlords don't take time to really check references and screen well. Once a "bad" tenant gets in there, then the problems start. Law enforcement and neighbors must go through months of time, energy and sometimes sleepless nights  trying to get the situations rectified. Ignorant landlords are difficult to reach, but educating them would benefit everyone involved! 

[JP Bourget]

OK -- Fair enough -- but how do we get them to do that? 

JP

[Scott]

It's clear we may not solve all these issues instantly....However,
the dialogue is very important. Thanks for jumping in. Seeing all
sides of this issue is essential.
I'd really like to hear more from all sides, but off the top of my
head, I'd like to hear more from the landlord side about property
improvement, and some of the pro's and con's involved with that.
Thank you both -Scott CHNA

On Jun 8, 11:26 am, JP Bourget <jp.bour...@gmail.com> wrote:
> OK -- Fair enough -- but how do we get them to do that?
>
> JP
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 10:35 AM, Pat Magill <monamag...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >  I guess I would like landlords to be more discerning with who they rent
> > to and that there aproperties are nice enough for tenants to want to live
> > there. Landlords don't take time to really check references and screen well.
> > Once a "bad" tenant gets in there, then the problems start. Law enforcement
> > and neighbors must go through months of time, energy and sometimes sleepless
> > nights  trying to get the situations rectified. Ignorant landlords are
> > difficult to reach, but educating them would benefit everyone involved!
>

> > *From:* JP Bourget <jp.bour...@gmail.com>
> > *To:* corn-hill-neighbors-cha...@googlegroups.com
> > *Sent:* Wednesday, June 08, 2011 9:59 AM
> > *Subject:* Re: Things I would like to change about Cornhill

>
> > PAT -- These are all great ideas -- how do you propose we enforce these?
> > I've been a tenant, am a Corn Hill Landlord and owner occupied.  The problem
> > is rules are rules -- do you really expect landlords to evict someone for
> > these things? An eviction costs anywhere from $200-$1000 depending on
> > experience. Also -- i half disagree on the property value -- I don't think
> > they are losing -- but def. not gaining since many rentals are priced by
> > cashflow -- not perceived value.
>
> > Further more -- if a tenant is leaving dog crap around -- that's a city
> > code violation -- maybe kinda a landlord issue -- but a landlord can't
> > really "fine" them for it. They can slap them on the wrist.
>
> > I think your concerns are valid -- how ever I don't think the solution is
> > forcing landlords to write their leases differently (well it is - but not
> > sure that approach will work)
>
> > I think it's just like the security committee -- we need to ensure that the
> > landlord or tenant has repercussions by their actions -- there's plenty of
> > city ordinances which the city is happy to enforce if they know about it.
> > Sometimes you have to nag them -- but they will enforce them. Maybe creating
> > a cheat sheet on who to call for what ordinance --
>
> > But at the same time -- we do live in a city -- boys will be boys -- maybe
> > the real solution is to solicit investors to come in and fix up these
> > properties, then raise the rent and price out the riff raff and have a
> > landlord who has $$ tied up in a property so they actually care who they
> > rent to.
>
> > JP
>

> > On Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 9:40 AM, PAT <monamag...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> Landlords (who do not live here and will not read this) need to be
> >> more concerned with the condition of their houses and to whom they
> >> choose to rent.  I am a renter at the same for almost 7 years. I have
> >> seen the properties nearest me change tenants at the rate of 3 or 4
> >> different ones per year. Whenever there are "good " tenants, they move
> >> on because the property does not meet their expectations. If the
> >> landlords treated their properties more like their own home, they
> >> would not have the turn over rate. Many of these changes are simple to
> >> make. For example they need to have specific rules spelled out in
> >> their leases that address pet noise, pet clean up, loud parties, yard
> >> and porch "etiquette" and refuse disposal. Property values are
> >> seriously effected by the lack of respect for these issues. Landlords
> >> would be protecting their own property values by paying more attention
> >> to screening and educating tenants as to what is expected of them.
>
> > --
> > JP/punkrokk
> > c:+1-585-319-1706
> > Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/punkrokk
> > Linked In:http://www.linkedin.com/in/jpbourget
>
> --
> JP/punkrokk
> c:+1-585-319-1706
> Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/punkrokk

> Linked In:http://www.linkedin.com/in/jpbourget- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Janet Mlinar]

Why not ask the landlords these questions. --- On Wed, 6/8/11, Scott <swil...@freshbeans.com> wrote:

[Scott]

Absolutely! I'm hoping that landlords might feel encouraged to join
this conversation. This charrette needs to include as many
stakeholders as possible.
An interesting remark;

"maybe the real solution is to solicit investors to come in and
fix up these properties, then raise the rent and price out the riff
raff"

I believe that could be true.....so why doesn't it happen? Well,
it's not because landlords are simply bad people. I'm sure there are
reasons...they might be economic...they may be something that I have
no clue about.

This is why the dialogue is so important. Please invite as many
participants as you can muster.
Thanks for taking part! -Scott CHNA

On Jun 8, 4:07 pm, Janet Mlinar <janet14...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Why not ask the landlords these questions.
>

> --- On Wed, 6/8/11, Scott <swilli...@freshbeans.com> wrote:

> > Linked In:http://www.linkedin.com/in/jpbourget-Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[Janet Mlinar]

Scott  do we have the contact information on all of our landlords?  It would be something CHNA would be interested in maintaining..one would think.

--- On Wed, 6/8/11, Scott <swil...@freshbeans.com> wrote:

[Rob Goodling]

Hello Janet & Scott--Historically, the CHNA Development Committee has had absentee landlord contact information. When I was Security Chair, I frequently needed to get this information. If memory serves, the Development Committee has frequently had the conversation you are suggesting with many Corn Hill landlords. Getting absentee landlords  to participate in the Charrette process would be a huge accomplishment and would go far toward correcting this problem. At present, the condition of some of our most outstanding architecture is embarrassing. Perhaps the Development Committee could make it a priority to contact all our absentee landlords and urge their Charrette participation. If all landlords lived in the neighborhood or even spent more time in the neighborhood, I believe the appearance of the neighborhood would improve drastically. Rob

[bonnywithy]

Part of the outreach to all stakeholders in and of the community will
be a special reach out to specific groups in unique ways, i.e. Faith
community, group homes, business, apartment home owners and absenttee
owners. In August, a letter will be sent to each home owner with an
address other than the home owned in Corn Hill. Over the past months,
the name, address, and phone number (where possible) for each absent
homeowner has been gathered. The letter will detail some of the
concerns and issues unique to the group - property upkeep as well as
tenant issues. There will be an invitation sent to this group to
attend an issue meeting scheduled for early Sept and from that, we
hope to get representatives from the group, if not all interested
owners to attend the Charette. Post Charette, there will be a
followup letter and or meeting.
Excluding group homes and apartment buildings with more than 7 apts
and the Mark IV properties of Riverferry Way and Corn Hill Landing,
there appears to be somewhere between 15-25% of the homes in Corn Hill
that are rental and not owner/occupied. A small percent of these
homes are second homes owned by Corn Hill residents.
Thank you all for expressing your concerns and they will be included
in the material going to each absent homeowners.
Bonny

[Janet Mlinar]

This would be something that Block Captains could help with.  They would know the rental units on their street/block.  --- On Wed, 6/8/11, Rob Goodling <rwgoo...@frontiernet.net> wrote:

[Pat Magill]

I don't think raising the rents to "price out the riff raff" is the proper
perspective to take. Everyone needs a decent place to live. I'm talking more
about educating landlords to keep their properties well maintained and to
learn how to screen tenants in terms of their past rental histories. (Were
their past landlords sorry to see them go? Did they demomstrate respect and
pesponsibility at their last place of residence? Did they pay their rent on
time and curb their dogs? ) People will many times live up to the
expectations of the neighborhood they move into. They will see that certain
behavior will not be tolerated. When there is excessive noise or
inappropriate behavior, they know they will be cited.. This has less to do
with money and more to do with responsibility on the part of landlords,
tenants and neighbors. We don't want landlords to fell harrassed. We want
them to feel that we welcome them, but have expectations also!

[CONAN O'NEIL]

I don't have much to add to the current discussion regarding improved
property maintenance of rental properties - we all agree that many of them
are in terrible shape. There are, however, SEVERAL owner-occupied, single
family homes that are also in deplorable shape ie: need painting, un-mowed
lawns, plantings overflowing onto the sidewalks, refuse in the yards, roofs
decaying and shedding shingles, etc. etc. The problem is clearly NOT
limited to rental property. Having said that, I would like to address
additional items that I feel would improve both the aesthetic appeal as well
as general safety of the neighborhood.

1. We need more trash cans on street corners.

For those of us that pick up trash on the streets during our daily walks,
you often have to travel several blocks with trash in your hands before
reaching one of the few trashcans placed throughout the neighborhood. In
addition to helping those conscientious enough to pick up garbage, adding
more trash cans would no doubt have a positive impact on another
neighborhood issue - people who leave dog excrement everywhere.

2. All property owners in Cornhill need to take responsibility for
keeping the sidewalks along their properties free of both garbage and snow.

As a person who walks my dog several times a day throughout the neighborhood
I can personally attest to the fact that the majority of residents leave all
snow removal duties to the sidewalk plows. The city code clearly states that
snow removal on the sidewalks is the responsibility of individual property
owners. Having the sidewalks clogged with snow and ice forces pedestrians
to walk in the street, especially dangerous for those of us walking pets as
well as the dozens of young children who walk to school each day. In
addition to this, many residences have their driveways plowed, resulting in
large drifts of snow on either side of the driveways - again forcing
pedestrians into the street. As for the garbage - it is common courtesy to
take the 5 seconds to pick up any garbage that has blown into your
yard/sidewalk.

3. Trash cans and refuse should not be put out on the curb until the
evening before pick up day.

Any given day you can walk through the neighborhood and see garbage cans,
furniture, boxes, bags etc. out on the curb. Many places put garbage out as
early as Saturday or Sunday - giving several days for the refuse to "spread
itself" down the street. There is nothing less appealing than going down the
streets and looking at abandoned furniture and decomposing boxes, bags and
other refuse for days on end. On a similar note - garbage cans should be
brought back in from the curbs the same evening as pick-up day. There MUST
be city ordinance that addresses this and could be more rigorously enforced.

4. Dog poop bags.

Perhaps a solution to the outrageous amount of animal excrement left on the
streets is to place doggy poop bag dispensers throughout the neighborhood.
Although it is an added expense, combined with additional trash cans it may
very well be worth the cost. Several of the neighborhoods in St.
Petersburg, FL where I lived installed and stocked these to combat what is
surely a universal urban problem.

5. Speed bumps.

The speed of traffic down the streets in the neighborhood is dangerous. I
regularly see vehicles speeding down Atkinson St., Clarissa St., Plymouth,
S. Fitzhugh and Adams St. Is it possible to install physical impediments
(speed bumps, STOP signs) to bring the speed of traffic within safe limits?

I've attempted to offer potential solutions to what I perceive as real
problems here in the neighborhood. I look forward to hearing if people
share my concerns and have any additional suggestions at solutions.

Conan O'Neil

[Pat Magill]

It's the quality of tenancy I'm having a problem with! Never have I seen
people who will continue to blast their music after getting a substantial
fine until now. The property I'm next door to was owner occupied for over 50
years until recently. Since the new ownership less than a year ago, I have
seen 4 sets of tenants. I fel that the new owner is ignorant. He redid the
roof and let the old shingles fly where ever! He even brought over the
contents of another apartment and dumped it on the curb in front of this
property. I just keep calling the city for one thing after another.My
landlord is much more concientious, but still looks at it merely as a
rental. I look at it as a dignified old house with a history! I AM impressed
with the number of concerned Cornhill residents who are willing to get
involved and am grateful to them! If we can educate one landlord, it will
be an improvement and I believe that everyone will benefit.
From: "CONAN O'NEIL" <co...@rochester.rr.com>
To: <corn-hill-neighbors-cha...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 6:34 PM
Subject: RE: Things I would like to change about Cornhill

[acu...@rochester.rr.com]

I have been trying to get speed bumps for 20 years. South Fitzhugh is a race track...very dangerous.

[Richard]

I am happy to see the broadening of involvement and all the postings. Great
comments, ideas and suggestions on all the different topics. The Charrette
Steering Committee will make sure that all of these topics will be addressed
in the Charrette process. Please keep up the dialogue and plan on attending
the Charrette on September 24th.
Thanks

[Pat Magill]

where nad what time?

[Rob Goodling]

As I recall, our last speed bump attempt was in 2003 for Clarissa Street especially. At that time, it was a county agency who conducted the study over about a three month period. A speed calculating machine was put into place (like the one recently on S. Fitzhugh Street) but it was determined then that we did not have a problem severe enough to warrant speed bumps and the snowplow/street cleaning problems that accompany them. Whenever these flashing speed indicators are put into place, drivers tend to slow down and the survey results don't seem to reflect our problem. Once they're removed, however, drivers then resort back to higher speeds. It's a catch 22 situation. Perhaps this is a case of the squeaky wheel getting greased. We might need to repeatedly voice the problem over and over until it is corrected. Rob

[Rob Goodling]

Pat--I checked the Charrette article on the website and the time and place aren't listed there yet. I believe the Charrette will take place at the Youth For Christ headquarters/auditorium located on Boys Club Place (near 490 between Ford Street and Livingston Park). It's a full day affair with lunch. Organizer Bonny Mayer has indicated that letters will be going out and, according to this month's Gazette, steering committee members are going to be available at the Pre-Fest Picnic at Lunsford Park on Friday, June 17, 6 p.m. to answer questions. Thanks, Rob

[Pat Magill]

Thanks! I'll try to make the picnic. Pat Magill

[acu...@rochester.rr.com]

Besides ordinary drivers the biggest offenders are the school buses and the UPS and FedEx drivers. The speed sign that was on S. Fitzhugh was worthless as a recording device. I watched people slow down when they saw it.

Now that it is gone we are back to our race track mentality.

Allan

[bonnywithy]

It is great to see issues coming up about things to be changed, I hope
you also put down some of the things you love about Corn Hill or would
like to see happen. I encourage everyone to but down anything about
anything. Anything and everything is on the table and as a community
with a plan, almost anything is possible, The results of other
community gatherings gives hope that as a group, we can do something
effective. At the community gathering - the Charrette, we will be in
small groups with professional facilitators to work toward a community
plan... what would we like our community to look like? The event will
be Sept 24th - starting about 8:30am and will be held at what was the
"Vineyard Church" at One Favor Street. Much more info to follow, but
this is a great start.

[Matt Denker]

Good Evening All,

I've been watching this discussion with great delight.  I think one of my favorite things about Corn Hill is that this conversation is even be happening.  Since I'm new to the group, I figure this email will have three parts to it: an introduction, a bit about landlords, and then a little bit about street geometry. My apologies in advance for such a lengthy email!

1.) Introduction
My name is Matthew Denker. I'm not from Rochester, although my wife is from Henrietta.  I actually moved to Rochester to go to RIT. After bouncing around Henrietta for a little while (and graduating from RIT), some friends and I moved into 15 Edgerton, just off Park Ave. I also started grad school at UofR.  In the same period of time, I became intensely interested in urbanism.  Conveniently, I was able to move to New York City after graduating (my wife-to-be at the time had already found work and moved here). Anyway, many of my friends never left Rochester (John Roth, of Taco John's, for one), and many of them have done quite well for themselves. My wife and I are excited to move back to Rochester someday, and that takes us to part two (feel free to ask anything you like).

2.) Landlord(ing)

So, Corn Hill, yeah?  It's actually a rather spectacular neighborhood.  So much so, that I've had my eye on it for years.  As opportunities have presented themselves, I've also tried to do what I can.  To that end, my wife and I bought 37 Eagle (the lot at the corner of Eagle and Beaver), about 2 years ago.  We look forward to building ourselves a home there in the coming years. More recently (this winter), we purchased 325 Plymouth and my brother is currently living there. He's a great tenant, but good tenants are incredibly hard to find.  I was responsible for renting out the apartment above 15 Edgerton while I lived there, and it's just not easy.  Everyone is correct that being an absentee landlord is also rather challenging.  Going further, there's no good way to price out people you don't want, largely because the market in Rochester won't command those kinds of premiums.  Cornhill Landing is some of the most expensive rental property in the city, and it's still a pittance compared to any major city on the east coast. With that in mind, it's really difficult to drive improvements with pure economics. I think one of the best ideas might be a combination of outreach and grants, not unlike SEAC, to make a difference.  It will take more aggressive outreach to really make a difference, though.  I think some sort of Business Improvement District, but for landlords might also be worthwhile.  I suspect many of the properties that are owned by absentees are not professionally managed anyway.  Some sort of community wide service to help with that would be really great.  Good people move into good homes (conversely, good homes attract good people).

3.) Urbanism

The idea of calming traffic in Corn Hill is both laudable and attainable.  That said, I believe we should consider world class changes to road geometry rather than speed bumps. One of the best things we could do is to build a combination of neck downs and parking protected, buffered bike lanes with pedestrian islands throughout the entire neighborhood.  This serves to tighten road widths, reducing speeds, as well as shortening pedestrian crossings, increasing safety.  Even more so, it allows us to add to many of the natural parts of Corn Hill people already like.  The additional landscaping opportunities are immense, and the promotion of time outdoors and alternate modes of transportation also serve to improve the neighborhood. Here are a few example pictures from New York City and Portland:

http://www.roncesvallesrenewed.org/Portals/0/images/9th%20avenue%20-%20after.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3464/3874919423_0bc98fd0bd.jpg

Connecting Corn Hill safely with the two nearest traffic generators (downtown and UofR) will allow a huge reduction in automotive dependence from the neighborhood.

Going beyond altering our streets, increasing the population of Corn Hill would do wonders for increased amenities, and reduced traffic.  While we frequently fear increases in density due to subsequent increases in traffic, Corn Hill is very near a tipping point where additional residents would allow for the amenities that would provide for a car-light (or even car-free) lifestyle (including a grocery store within walking distance). On a related note, one of the things most hindering urbanism in Rochester in general is an unnecessary abundance of parking (and a lack of all the things that were torn down to provide it). Developing some of the wasted land in Corn Hill would begin to repair this problem. I believe that the charrette should and will explore this matter extensively.

I'd like to close with two additional items.  First, thank you all again for taking the time to read this lengthy email. Second, here's a short list of websites, some Rochester, and some not, that I think are really worth reading with regard to urbanism:

Rochester:

http://heckeranddecker.wordpress.com/

http://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/

http://tocquevillagechronicles.wordpress.com/

Other:

http://streetsblog.org/

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/

http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/

I am really excited to participate in the charrette, and I look forward to both meeting you in September and chatting with you over email in the meantime.

Thanks,

m

[Pat Magill]

In my experience as a tenant, professional management for a double or triple family home is ineffective. It just creates more distance between tenant and landlord. Of course it takes more time and care for the landlord to be directly involved with the tenant candidates, it is the most effective means of getting a good tenant. An open dialog between tenant and landlord creates good relations and helps maintain a property.

----- Original Message -----

From: Matt Denker

To: corn-hill-neighbors-cha...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2011 1:39 AM

Subject: Re: Things I would like to change about Cornhill

[Scott]

Matt,
Thanks for jumping in! Your input will have value before and after
the charrette.
Once the charrette is over, all that has been learned will be put
together to form a strategic plan.
It's unclear so far what that plan will look like, but it will be
the community that drives it and makes it happen.
I look forward to seeing you at the charrette. Thanks again for
joining the dialogue....invite some friends!
-Scott CHNA

> http://www.roncesvallesrenewed.org/Portals/0/images/9th%20avenue%20-%...http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3464/3874919423_0bc98fd0bd.jpg

>
> Connecting Corn Hill safely with the two nearest traffic generators
> (downtown and UofR) will allow a huge reduction in automotive dependence
> from the neighborhood.
>
> Going beyond altering our streets, increasing the population of Corn Hill
> would do wonders for increased amenities, and reduced traffic.  While we
> frequently fear increases in density due to subsequent increases in traffic,
> Corn Hill is very near a tipping point where additional residents would
> allow for the amenities that would provide for a car-light (or even
> car-free) lifestyle (including a grocery store within walking distance). On
> a related note, one of the things most hindering urbanism in Rochester in
> general is an unnecessary abundance of parking (and a lack of all the things
> that were torn down to provide it). Developing some of the wasted land in
> Corn Hill would begin to repair this problem. I believe that the charrette
> should and will explore this matter extensively.
>
> I'd like to close with two additional items.  First, thank you all again for
> taking the time to read this lengthy email. Second, here's a short list of
> websites, some Rochester, and some not, that I think are really worth
> reading with regard to urbanism:
>

> Rochester:http://heckeranddecker.wordpress.com/http://www.rochestersubway.com/topics/http://tocquevillagechronicles.wordpress.com/
>
> Other:http://streetsblog.org/
> <http://streetsblog.org/>http://greatergreaterwashington.org/

> <http://greatergreaterwashington.org/>http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/
>
> I am really excited to participate in the charrette, and I look forward to
> both meeting you in September and chatting with you over email in the
> meantime.
>

> <http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/>Thanks,

> m
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jun 10, 2011 at 2:34 PM, bonnywithy <bma...@rochester.rr.com> wrote:
> > It is great to see issues coming up about things to be changed, I hope
> > you also put down some of the things you love about Corn Hill or would
> > like to see happen.    I encourage everyone to but down anything about
> > anything.  Anything and everything is on the table and as a community
> > with a plan, almost anything is possible,  The results of other
> > community gatherings gives hope that as a group, we can do something
> > effective.   At the community gathering - the Charrette, we will be in
> > small groups with professional facilitators to work toward a community
> > plan... what would we like our community to look like?  The event will
> > be Sept 24th - starting about 8:30am and will be held at what was the
> > "Vineyard Church" at One Favor Street. Much more info to follow, but

> > this is a great start.- Hide quoted text -