Your home and yard are in pristine condition, but the front of your neighbor’s home looks like a used car lot. The grass is three feet high and the carport is full of junk.
How can you maintain good relations with your neighbors and keep your block looking good?
The sixth and final Great Community Workshop – “Maintaining the Value and Appearance of Your Neighborhood” – will offer some answers. The workshop will be Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m. in Room 1E-108 at City Hall.
Organized by the city’s Neighborhood Outreach team, the monthly Great Community workshops explored a variety of topics, including neighborhood organizing, communication skills and conflict resolution. More than 100 residents have participated.
“The workshops gave me new ideas on how to communicate with other homeowners,” said Frank Muscutt, who attended multiple workshops. “The turnout was good, so there was feedback from many participants who had different views.”
Experts spoke at each of the workshops. At the March workshop, appraiser Graham Albertini, code compliance officer Liz Krzyminski and home loan repair specialist Sam Ezadian will offer their perspectives.
Albertini, with 25 years of experience evaluating Bellevue houses, will discuss pride of ownership, the importance of neighborhood esthetics and what amenities and specifics most affect value.
Krzyminski, a code compliance officer for the city, will address topics including noise, nuisance, litter, handbills, construction, permits, vehicle issues and landscape concerns. These and many other issues affect neighborhood livability and value.
Participants also will learn what the city code allows, and what steps people can take to work with their neighbors to assure the neighborhood looks good. Krzyminski also will discuss common issues that contribute to neglected properties, including illness and aging residents.
Participants are invited to submit code-related questions before the meeting via e-mail to ekrzyminski@bellevuewa.gov. Questions will be addressed at the workshop.
Community resources are available for those that may need help with home maintenance. Home loan repair specialist Sam Ezadian will review the parameters of the Bellevue home loan repair program. Copies of the newly updated Bellevue Home Repair and Maintenance Guide will be available.
The evening begins with a “meet and mingle” with refreshments at 7 p.m. and the formal program begins at 7:15 p.m. An RSVP is preferred, but last-minute attendees are welcome.
To RSVP or for more information, contact Julie Ellenhorn in Neighborhood Outreach, 425.452.5372 or jellenhorn@bellevuewa.gov.
