The city of Saint John is trying to clean up its act with a pilot program that aims to work with residents to tidy up properties the city deems unsightly.
It’s called the Enhanced Community Standards Program and it’s an initiative of the city’s growth committee. The initial focus is on unsightly premises and the impact that is has on the community.
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About 300 properties have been targeted as unsightly and it’s hoped that property owners will comply on their own.
“Of course if that doesn’t happen there are steps in place where we can go to, what is called a notice of compliance,” said Mark O’Leary, the community standards coordinator.
“(It) will force them to clean it up and if they don’t clean it up, then the city has the ability after the fact.”
The city’s options include passing the cost on to the property owner.
The committee has been told uptake has been encouraging so far, and O’Leary predicts the program will be inspirational.
“If you look at your neighbour’s property and see that it’s starting to look good, there’s a little bit of pride in yourself to make your property look as good as theirs or better,” said O’Leary. “We’re hoping that it just kinds of expands all on its own”
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Part of the overall goal is to grow the city’s population and tax base with the thought that people want to live in a clean city.
“(I’m) hoping they’re driving around and looking for a place to buy and if the next door’s clean but you have a house for sale and the one next door is full of junk or garbage, then you’re just not going to do it, that’s all,” Lowe explained. “You’re going to move on and move to a different area.”
The goal is to have 80 resolved cases by the end of the year.
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