Sharraxaadda
There is a house on the North side of Wharton street, one lot East of 9th that has been abandoned for years.
The weeds in front of the house are about 2 feet high. The weeds and the stairway are a dumping ground for garbage mainly from customers of Pat's & Genos. It's utterly disgusting to have something like this right next to a major tourist draw.
Recently windows have been broken and then boarded up. Rats are being attracted to the mess out side and are routinely seen running out from the stairway.
3 Faalladas
EBW (Isticmaale Diiwaangashan)
Call 311 and request that L&I be dispatched to examine the property.
L&I just recently announced new regulations, called the Windows and Doors Ordinance, that compel property owners to have real, functional windows and doors in a structure, even if the property is abandoned. The fine is $300 PER DAY, PER WINDOW OR DOOR for non-compliance.
This is a huge fine for the a-holes that sit on these abandoned properties and it is designed specifically to light a fire under their @#$% so they can no longer get away with land banking and running down neighborhoods that most of them don't even live in.
Here's a suggestion if you have the time:
Go to the Office of Property Assessment website (http://opa.phila.gov/default.aspx) and use the property search function to find out who the owner of the property is. Sometimes they cleverly list the abandoned house in question as the mailing address for the owner, but often, you'll be able to get a name and snail mail address for the owner. Send them a certified letter stating that you represent the block the house is on and inform them that the house has been reported to L&I. You should inform them about the new L&I regulations about windows and doors (http://nakedphilly.com/uncategorized/li-fighting-blight-in-your-neighborhood/) and let them know that a big headache is rolling towards them if they do not take action o abate the blight or sell the property.
I've done this on a number of occasions and that, combined with being contacted by L&I and/or getting fined, has forced quite a few property owners to re-hab, sell , or just tear the building down.
Good luck.
EF (Martida)
H.Padugan (Isticmaale Diiwaangashan)