For the past couple of years, the homeowner has mystified and angered neighbors with their fake flower and holiday lights collection. Sounds harmless, of course, except the collection is prominently displayed all over the house and yard and neighbors say it’s hurting property values. Complaints have steadily rolled in to the point of Councilman Brian Kazy stepping in.
“It is a pain, and we’re going to deal with it,” Councilman Brian Kazy, who filed official paperwork with the city’s Building and Housing Department to do something about it, told NewsNet5.
Turns out though, covering your house in, well, spring, isn’t exactly against the law or any ordinances. In fact it seems to only empower the homeowner, who has since added even more more fake flowers to the fold. The homeowner has, however, put up structures (re: images of half-naked people on a door), that may help to get the get the squabble rolling.
Since the first official complaint is now closed, Councilman Kazy is considering mediation to quell the neighborhood squabble. In the meantime, he’s meeting with the city again to look into what, if anything, can be done.
This article appears in Apr 6-12, 2016.
I drive by that house twice a day and look forward to what they’re going to do next, it’s a shame when your own your own house you can’t do what you want, let’s talk about property values your boxed in at one end with Circle K and a bar with an Arab grocery store Ferris Steakhouse and a Mexican grocery store a huge apartment building and then your houses. So getting rid of all those decorations is going to change everything.Idiots……
There is nothing illegal about poor / tacky taste. Get over it people! Their house and as long as it Is maintained?? Nothing you can do about it. And I don’t live too far from this place so before I hear the “…you don’t have to live by it…” argument.
Sounds to me like you are a prejudiced ignorant individual.
I used to live three streets from this house. This neighborhood has so many other things negatively effecting the property values. Fake flowers are the least of their worries.
I have a suggestion to the City of Lakewood. — Get a professional landscape architect to work the occupant. The owner might be so blinded by the artificial flowers that they have no concept of the natural beauty under all the plastic. This problem might be as simple as showing the owner how much natural color could be added with minimal maintenance with the addition of a few real flowers. Looking at the picture in the article there is a good base planting to work with in this yard.
Fuck the flowers Kazy Your own neighbor hood didn’t want you so you were appointed Fix the chuckholes
I live down the street and I’ve seen the residents taking care of their lawn (mowing,blowing leaves, shoveling snow). Most people don’t take care of their yards at all! This house makes me feel safe at night when I walk to the circle K. If this gets taken down, please tell all the surrounding houses they need to pick up their litter and maintain their yards as well!
Seriously, it’s not trash, unattended animals, loitering spot, or a dilapidated house. It’s their property, it’s clean, well kept yard, etc. A true reflection of its owner, a conversation piece and most of all…….fun! I lived near that house for 16 years and never once found it offensive. Leave these people alone and concentrate on drug houses, slumlords, abandoned buildings, overgrown yards, etc!!!!
I also drive by that house regularly, have taken people to see it and taken photos of it a few times. Last time I saw it I was saying to myself, “I wonder if any jerk neighbors have complained about this house” and voila. “Property values” in that neighborhood? Don’t make me laugh. This house is not only nicely maintained apart from the flower show, but also, this house is the best thing that little hole of a neighborhood has going for it. There’s always some jerk who has to spoil something nice. So glad the people are getting to keep the flower display because it is really something cool in a neighborhood that otherwise is pretty much nowhere.
Seems to me like councilman Kazy should have far more important issues. Couldn’t believe I read “in the meantime he’ll be working with the city to see what, if anything, can be done.”. So we’re involving more city officials’ time/effort? For what? it’s sad how petty people really are.
Hey “Alan of Lakewood” not only is the house fine without a professional landscape architect, but the house is in Cleveland ,not Lakewood. Kazy is on the Cleveland City Council. Ward 16, not Lakewood. Please read the article more carefully next time.