PAPA Celebrates Fairfield Enhancements
October 2014
Neighborhoods along the Fairfield corridor recently celebrated more improvements to their area. The Packard Area Planning Alliance (PAPA), which is a coalition of seven near southwest neighborhood associations, dedicated 92 street trees and 73 ornamental lights along the Fairfield corridor on October 23, 2014.
The trees are being planted along Fairfield Ave. from Creighton Ave. to Rudisill Blvd. The trees and the lights together create a welcoming path from downtown into south Fort Wayne. The trees will not only beautify Fairfield Ave., they will also help reduce erosion, clean the air, provide habitat for wildlife, cut heating and cooling costs, and help restore some of our city's tree canopy lost to storms and pests.
And there's more than just lights and trees – the corridor is being renewed with façade grants for places like the Boys and Girls Club, Bushey's and Brian Schaper's Fairfield Shoppes. The City has also made street improvements along Fairfield by creating a center turn lane. Many others have invested in this important corridor, including the Lutheran Foundation, Dan Swartz of Wunderkammer, SAFY and Biggs Development with the Courtyard apartments, along with other businesses and homeowners.
The enthusiastic dedication of area residents is making the Fairfield corridor revitalization possible – the neighbors have rolled up their sleeves and worked tirelessly alongside the City in order to see the improvements take shape. Their work is all part of a strategic effort to enhance the near southwest side of Fort Wayne. Beginning in late 2003, members of PAPA began working on a Community Development Area Plan, or CDAP. The CDAP was approved by City Council in 2005 and the City and neighborhood residents have been working to implement the strategies and goals of the plan since then.
To read more about PAPA and local CDAPs, visit www.fwcommunitydevelopment.org/area-plans.
By John Caywood, Neighborhood Code Enforcement Administrator
The photo above shows what can happen when raccoons decide to make your attic their winter home. Because raccoons are generally nocturnal, Code Officers rarely see raccoons inside vacant houses. But, as the picture above shows, we see strong evidence of raccoon infestation on a regular basis.
How do you know if you have raccoons in your attic or crawl space? If you hear sounds in the house starting at dusk and then again around dawn, you probably have raccoons. If you see a space where a raccoon could slip into your home, you can block the hole loosely with wadded newspaper. If after a couple days the newspaper stays in place, then it's likely no animal is using that as a doorway into your home.
If you do suspect raccoons, it's best to call a professional to remove the animal(s) and seal up the places where they're entering. You'll also want to make sure a professional cleans up any of the raccoon waste, which can contain raccoon roundworm. This parasitic worm can infect humans (and even pets) and is spread by the egg spores, which easily become airborne and can be breathed in. These egg spores can live for years as dry pods. Raccoons can also carry other illness-causing bacteria, as well as lice and fleas. And while raccoons can carry rabies, most people never get close enough to be bitten and therefore infected.
When you're outside this fall raking leaves or clearing gutters, make sure you inspect your home for any cracks or holes an animal could squeeze through. Take a look at your roof lines, soffits, fascia and any areas where different building materials come together, such as window wells and dryer exhaust vents. The Humane Society of America offers some good tips for inspecting your homes for openings animals can get through. Sealing up any openings now can help prevent the problems the critters cause when they nest in your home.
Why can't the City of Fort Wayne enforce my Home Owner Association rules, deed restrictions, or covenants?
September 2014
By John Caywood, Neighborhood Code Enforcement Administrator
HOA rules, deed restrictions and covenants are civil agreements between a property owner and the developer or homeowners' association. When someone purchases a property, they agree to follow certain rules set by the developer or HOA. These rules are not set by the City, nor does the City have any responsibility in determining what they are. Chapter 150 & 152 of City ordinance establishes minimum standards required for the health, safety and well-being of its citizens, but deed restrictions generally establish a higher standard of living for a particular area. Violations of deed restrictions should be reported to your HOA. If there is not an active HOA, they may be enforced by one individual against another by filing a case in civil court. Search for restrictive covenants online here.
