An Open Letter to the Residents of the 46XX Block of Smick St.

[D-man]

Please clean-up in front of your homes. I walk through the neighborhood daily, and this is by far the trashiest block. I understand that you all have convenient driveways behind your homes and that you actually have no reason to use the front door, but you may want to take a look at the front of your house occasionally to get an idea of the kind of trash that accumulates. This has been going on since the houses were built. I mean, I've been walking past that bag of dog sh!t in the picture above since Monday.

In addition, that strip of grass is consistently a trash strewn mess. I would love to have a little patch of green space in front of my house, and if I did I would spend whatever small amount of time is necessary to maintain the grass. In the summer time, is it too much invest in a cheap weed trimmer to cut the grass in front of your house?

I realize that some of the trash is the result of littering, however much of it is the fault of the homeowners who put their trash out at inappropriate times and in the improper container. Many a morn I've walked down that block and saw a stray trash bag laying on the sidewalk, when it wasn't even close to trash day. What do you think is going to happen when the cats and squirrels get to it?

You paid $350,000 for your house. Show some pride in ownership and clean up a little.

[sullivjo]

This is the best passive aggressive post I've seen...complete with visuals.

[Sycamore]

Passive? This is pretty straight-forwardly aggressive. I'd feel the same way if I lived next door to slobs.

[Fallseur]

This is the best passive aggressive post I've seen...complete with visuals.

I suppose the OP should just sit on their ass and not say anything?
Or perhaps you would have them go out and confront the pigs creating the problem and risk being beaten to within inches of his life?
Whatever, good job OP, I feel your pain.

[NJbound]

mail em an anonymous letter asking them to clean up.. I did that before for old neighbors and it worked well.

[Debbie1125]

I agree with the OP. The owners/renters are probably too lazy to clean up the mess. Really........how much effort does it take to pick up the litter and throw it into their trash cans?

The block I live on is clean for the most part. We do have houses with old circulars and Reviews galore on the pavement though.

[OldMama]

The problem with new construction like this is that it turns its back on the neighborhood. As the OP said, it's unlikely that the owners ever go in or out their front door. Give me an old house with a front porch or front stoop entrance any day. It feels much more connected to the environment. This is why I'll never live in one of these new houses. (Actually, I'm moving to a "new" house. It was built in 1903. That's 3-5 years newer than my present house.)

[D-man]

The problem with new construction like this is that it turns its back on the neighborhood. As the OP said, it's unlikely that the owners ever go in or out their front door. Give me an old house with a front porch or front stoop entrance any day.

+1

If they must have parking for their two Lexus SUVs, then maybe they should live in the suburbs.

UPDATE: There is now a second bag of dog crap on the sidewalk. Granted, it's probably not one of these homeowners that is leaving the bags, but if they actually took a look at their house from the curb, they would see the mess and hopefully do something about it.

I know some of these residents read this forum, so I was hoping they would get the message, talk to their neighbors and straighten things up.

[sullivjo]

Hey. I was serious. And yes, this would be considered passive aggressive, as opposed to asking them to pick up their trash to their face. I highly doubt the residents of 46XX Smick read this blog. Not saying that I would do so, which is why I think this is the best passive aggressive post. It is aggressive, but not direct. Hence the term passive aggressive.

[Hypebeast]

Granted, it's probably not one of these homeowners that is leaving the bags

If you concede this then why not just clean up the trash yourself?

If it bothered me that much when it wasn't even where I lived i'd probably stop walking down that block.

[The Rox]

Good for you, D-man.

I think an anonymous letter to all of the residents on the block is a great idea. It may take a little time and money, but it also may be well worth it.

[blueroses]

The problem with new construction like this is that it turns its back on the neighborhood. As the OP said, it's unlikely that the owners ever go in or out their front door.

Which makes me wonder: Do they shovel the sidewalks when it snows? If so, that's a great time to stop by and let them know there's poop out there.

[Lollyblogger]

LOVE this post about the trash-ignoring neighbors in the fancy houses. Amazing, isn't it?
I've seen blocks that every Christmas deck themselves with beautiful displays, yet during the day the sidewalks are strewn with trash.
My suggestion: Gather up the trash in front of a house, put it in a little back and tie the bag to their front railing. Maybe they'll get the hint.
Picking it up yourself always the best option.
People who are pigs are pig-headed!

[PhillyTex]

Funny thing is, some people have a better chance of seeing the trash that is in front of their house by stumbling across a picture of it on the web than they are by you know, actually walking outside and taking a look at their house from the perspective of "everyone else".

[D-man]

Walking down the 4600 block of Smick St this week, the sidewalk was spotless. Perhaps someone is reading this thread.

[loveisnoise]

Walking down the 4600 block of Smick St this week, the sidewalk was spotless. Perhaps someone is reading this thread.

Or the wind just blew it away.

[lewblum]

you may want to take a look at the front of your house occasionally to get an idea of the kind of trash that accumulates.

I can't say I blame them for not wanting to look at the front of their house. That row is the ugliest new construction known to man!

The fact that they bought the house says a lot about their concern for having anything that looks nice.

[magatoni]

amen

[Debbie1125]

I can't say I blame them for not wanting to look at the front of their house. That row is the ugliest new construction known to man!

The fact that they bought the house says a lot about their concern for having anything that looks nice.

Most of the new construction in the Manayunk/Roxborough area, with a few exceptions, is ugly. The designs are very similar. The two homes being built at Leverington & Fleming look almost exactly like the ones at Silverwood and Green Lane AND the ones at Dupont & Baker.

Give me an older house any day!

[OldMama]

And, yet, the new ones are selling faster than the old ones. My beautiful old house was on the market for just over 4 months! More house, less money but it took longer to sell.