MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Neighbors on a Frayser street want the city to tidy up a blighted property with overgrown grass because they believe it is a security concern.
The home is in the 3900 block of Callahan Drive.
Neighbor Jimmy Russell said he called the city about it, but the property looks the same.
Grass and bushes towered in the yard while trash piled high inside. The mess made Russell fear for his neighbors’ safety.
“One of my neighbors told me that she has seen people in the driveway sit 15 to 20 minutes,” Russell said. “I guess they’re smoking dope, I don’t know.”
Another neighbor said she usually talks with someone on the phone before walking into her own home.
Just last week, WREG told you about a rape at a blighted and vacant lot in North Memphis.
The city knows it is a serious concern.
It confirmed no one has lived here since 2010. The city said it has sent a notice to the property’s owner. It has responded to the property and found the grass cut, which was not the case earlier this month.
The city sent someone out to the property again, but the person it sent to cut the grass said the task was too big for the equipment. The city said it is shooting to get someone out to the property soon, possibly Tuesday, to cut through the yard with a bush hog.
After that, someone from code enforcement will check out the house.
The city explained that it bills property owners when it sends crews to mitigate problems like cut grass.
Neighbors hope the tall promise rids them of the tall grass.
“Clean it up,” Russell said.
UPDATE: Wednesday, the city confirmed a contractor mowed the lawn and the city billed the property owner for the services.