Jackson Jambalaya

What the hell you talking about Kingfish? That isn't a plywood window. That is a Jackson-style exterior shutter that just happens to be closed.

...now on to 1869 Brecon, which appears to be owned by a man named Estes. He needs a visit from Mr. Bulldozer.

Kingfish, U do so many good things.
Thank U.

Why not have a code about the number of glass windows, or maybe glass doors. Or maybe ban plywood unless it painted the color that you choose.

This is why I live in the county on 25 acres. to get away from people that tell me what to do with my property based upon their choices and time frame but with my money.

It this house is in foreclosure then you buy it and I will drive by and tell you what paint and brick and windows to use. Oh, and must finish within 7 days of purchase.

I love living in the country too but that shouldn't make people inconsiderate about how the use/management of their property affects the value of others' property. It's not neighborly to have a dumpy home/yard.

You are right dumpyness (is that a word) is not neighborly, but it should not be a crime, what happened to live and let live, English common law tradition in this country has given way to a regulation based society, in the old days society was ruled by society norms that over time would edge people to a common behavior or if you thought a wrong was committed you sued me and a judge would rule on the slow moving guide of common law. Now we just pass regs and codes that are not enforced until someone says I dislike that and it doesn't meet code and then they call code enforcement and gov. does it for you.

I could go to any house and find a code violation. I am not against codes that deal with health or safety but I believe that to have a say and control of property you must own it.

So I guess that house in Pearl that had dozens of dead animals, if not hundreds, inside should have been left alone? I mean, it's their property to do what they want with - right? Who cares if the whole block smells like dead carcasses?

Please re-read the post, it says health or safety codes are OK, codes about I don't like the way that looks, etc.

Windows and doors are considered a means of egress. Boarding them up could possibly violate the local fire code.

Could be, but that is not the point, do fire codes require a glass window and a outside door in all rooms, no.

In other words, if the owner of this house had just bricked up the window with brick that matched the rest of the house and took down the shutters on either side, kingfish would be OK with that. It not the fire code he is concern about, it's that plywood over a window for any reason or any amount of time that he was not consulted about or that is not painted to conform, then he is concerned. Also, if it was on a back window then we would never be having this discussion, which tells you its about looks.

Anybody who does not think that boarded up houses leads to crime is an idiot. I live in the country, have an 840 ft driveway for a reason. I would be raising unholy Hell if this were beside me bringing in the element such things do. I do not know nor care why it brings what it brings but I have sense enough to know it brings it. I can't believe some kids have not gotten inside and been using it as a flop house by now but give it time and they will. If the owner HAD bricked it up it might take them a little longer to figure a way in is the only benefit I see to bricking it also. It brings down property values all along the street. Now, you may not care if your property values decrease and your neighborhood goes to shit but most people have more pride in their surroundings than you apparently do. It is not about 'pretty' it is about safety stoopid.

The things you just mentioned occur because the house is empty, and not watched, not because a window is boarded up. It is about pretty. As you said this house is not a flop house. Neighborhoods go down when any number of things happen. Again, try and live and let live. One day your neighbor will object to something you do and you will cuss and scream again in righteous indignation. I've seen it over and over. Now "get off my property"

Also, I assume you live in county on a 840 driveway for at least 2 reasons, 1. safety from city crime and 2. so neighbors can't see and won't turn you in on any code violations.

And if I drove up to your house to tell you that the plywood on your window isn't pretty, you would say it's none of my business and get off my property.

#1 I do not and would not have Plywood on my windows, that's trashy if not immediately after a storm/loss of some kind. #2 If you DO want to have plywood on your windows, move to the country where you do not affect others and no one will complain. If you want to live with the convience of city so close you have to understand you will have to live up the the standards of the neighborhood or you will receive complaints as YOU will be the reason the standards are falling. Nobody wants YOU to create a loss of value for THEM. That's common sense. Isn't there an old saying that the needs of the many outweight the needs of the few? Why should everybody else on a street have to suffer for your lack of pride?

First of all I live 25 miles from jackson in Hinds county. Second of all I do have pride in my home and yard. You are right value is somewhat determined by your neighborhood. From 1987 to 1991 I lived in Fondren before it was cool, so values go both ways because I was able to buy low (old neighborhood) and sell high (no plywood on new restored home). What I am saying over and over is live and let live and keep the gov out of daily life, or soon they will come to your door about some minor item (car in driveway more that 2 day etc.) and then you will be changing your tune. The wants and desires of the many over the choices of the individual? Whose money. And people in the country complain as well.

Do you think the tax assessor will LOWER our property taxes if our property values fall any further? They, as most of us know, recently raised them despite the fact that values were already in decline all over the U.S.

What do you bet they will raise them again when time allows, as they turn a blind eye to the real value. Stinkin' vultures!

I do understand what you are trying to say but there have to be limitations for the trash and stupid among us. If your neighbor just loved dreaming about sex with granny, your granny, would you say, 'live and let live'? Dreaming about it is not against the law but do you want him next door? It is not against the law to do some things that normal decent people know not to do. Live and let live is just as dangerous as complaining about every little thing. Most normal people know bounderies but there are some that do not. Whether it is something as horrid as granny molestor wanna be's or someone getting drunk next door every night, playing his music as high as it will go all while in his skivvies, or letting their property run down to the point it affects all around him there has to be limitations in civil society. We cannot turn a blind eye under the guise of 'live and let live'. If you are not affecting anyone and it's what you wanna do, go for it, live and let live. But when you start causing grief to all around you you need to either move or stop. I live on family land that will not sell in my lifetime so I know I'm safe from the riff raff. I hope you are also because I think YOU would be singing a different tune if this house were beside you. But, as I say, I do understand what you are saying as I'm the same way up to a point. But when you are infringing on all around you, you crossed the boundary.

I'm about ready to toss in a bucket of cold water on y'all.

The house was foreclosed. Foreclosed houses must be secured because EVERYTHING becomes destroyed & stolen when an empty house sits for a period of time... light fixtures, sinks, toilets and stoves are removed, windows are broken...securing these foreclosed houses is a requirement by the banks. The beautiful plywood that has caused so much excitement was not a choice the former owner made. His home was foreclosed, locks were changed & house was secured by orders of the bank.