Florida Woman Fined $190,000 for Overgrown Yard

AP ^ | Feb 27 2004

[george wythe]

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. Antoinette Stavropoulos says she is in no shape to maintain the overgrown lawn for which she has been fined nearly three times the value of her home.

Stavropoulos acknowledges that the grass in her back yard reaches 3 feet high and a foot high in the front. But she can't fathom paying the $190,000 she has accumulated in fines since she was first warned about the grass two and half years ago.

"I'm by myself, I have hernias, I have arthritis in my legs," Stavropoulos, 53, said Thursday. "They said, 'You have to get it done.'"

Communities in the Tampa Bay area have been cracking down on eyesores in an attempt to attract new commercial and residential interests, but Stavropoulos calls her mounting $200-a-day fines "just goofy."

[george wythe]

This lady needs to file a homestead claim for her property and the liens placed on her property will go away.

The State Constitution forbids liens on homestead property for cival fines. The code board has not authority on homestead property.

I did not know that. Good idea if correct.

[MEGoody]

Used to be a time when neightbors helped each other. In my neighborhood, we still do. Doesn't seem to be the case where this lady lives.

[MEGoody]

"Don't you think that is a bit ridiculous and extreme?"

Yup, and the fine should be dropped as well, since it's being taken care of.

[MEGoody]

"What if she liked her lawn that way? Its her private property!"

Yep, but in an area where houses are relatively close together, that kind of overgrowth can end up causing problems for your neighbors. Such a yard could become a haven for rats and all kinds of insects. And the little critters won't just stay there.

[freethistle]

We call it "private" property because it's private. Do you want to have private property or do we want to have communal or communistic property?

When you have your property taken from you by the government or be forced into bankruptcy because the government doesn't like the way your yard looks (no public safety issue) you are no longer a free person with private property. You are a serf.

[AnAmericanMother]

The polka-dot homeowner settled the case with the Avondale Estates City Commission:

Polka Dot Protestor Fought City Hall, Wins

The house itself:

The government in Avondale Estates is one of the most nit-picky and oppressive in the Atlanta metro area. It's a good thing that somebody finally decided to take them on. I wouldn't live there if you paid me. The big joke is, it's not all THAT nice a neighborhood, and it's located very close to some very bad ones. Many better places to live in Atlanta.

[george wythe]

When you have your property taken from you by the government or be forced into bankruptcy because the government doesn't like the way your yard looks (no public safety issue) you are no longer a free person with private property. You are a serf.

Yes. Although we are allowed to live in the lord's large property, we must abide by the rules. Good serfs know who's the lord of the manor.

[freethistle]

If any of her neighbors use pesticides on their lawns they may be causing problems for her or other neighbors. Do you think the pesticide-users should be forced to stop?

If they were claiming fire hazard about really high grasses I'd listenor if there was garbage strewn on the lawn I would think they had a point, but they just don't like grass and plants they way God made 'em? Fuggedaboutit.

[Old Professer]

This lady needs a neighbor.

[freethistle]

Thanks for home decorating tip.

I've driven through that town-I liked the little business district architecture-I think the stores are 2-story English Tudor buildings?

[freethistle]

I agree . You are not responsible for her property.

But she is not responsible for you making a profit on your property.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Hee hee! Thanks for digging that up. I didn't realize his neighbors had gotten into the act too. Must be a really out-of-control "preservation" board.

[303george]

What ever happened to being neighborly?

When it snows my father now shovels out 4 houses, his own, and three neighboors (2 are elderly and one is bedridden with cancer). He does it for free, before he is even asked, by the time the sun is up, he has been out there 2 hours.

What bothers me is that there are several young couples on his block that pay a service to clear their driveways and sidewalks. Despite this, these young guys never come out to help my father while he is breaking his back out there.

Whatever happened to looking after your neighbors?

[303george]

What ever happened to being neighborly?

When it snows my father now shovels out 4 houses, his own, and three neighboors (2 are elderly and one is bedridden with cancer). He does it for free, before he is even asked, by the time the sun is up, he has been out there 2 hours.

What bothers me is that there are several young couples on his block that pay a service to clear their driveways and sidewalks. Despite this, these young guys never come out to help my father while he is breaking his back out there.

Whatever happened to looking after your neighbors?

[Old Professer]

There is no common decency registered here in the majority of the posts from would-be jackboots ready to run this lady out of town on a rail, feathers and bits of tar flying down the tracks behind her.

The most illuminating fact lies here in an excerpt from a publication concerning the woman's property:

"However, if she abandoned her home, it could go into foreclosure, be cleaned up, resold and "we end up with a homeowner who takes care of the property," said Gary Brevoort, the city's certified building official. "Ultimately that's what we're looking for."

The city is not about to forgive the excessive fines even after attempts at compliance and since they can't foreclose due to Homestead laws they continue to fine her and make her life a living Hell.

These officials and all of the evil-spirited nabobs nattering about things of which they have only snips of information should be ashamed.

[MEGoody]

"If they were claiming fire hazard about really high grasses I'd listenor if there was garbage strewn on the lawn I would think they had a point, but they just don't like grass and plants they way God made 'em? Fuggedaboutit."

Well, lets just hope none of your neighbors ever lets their grass grow really long, and lets hope you don't end up with rats or some other infestation because of it. You might change your mind. :)

[freethistle]

I think you may have a point about the tall grasses and certain creatures. I hadn't know tall grasses were associated.

The only rat problem I had had once apparently came from a neighbor who kept chained dogs in the yard.

The dogs were actually gentle and not really a problem but apparently having dog food always being set outside is an attractor.

Rats are clearly a health problem.

[spectre]

"What bothers me is that there are several young couples on his block that pay a service to clear their driveways and sidewalks. Despite this, these young guys never come out to help my father while he is breaking his back out there."

They won't help anyone because they [themselves] PAY for services rendered.

God bless your father. He is a good man.

sw

[AnAmericanMother]

Oh, the business district in Avondale is as cute as can be - it's the half-timbered English Tudor look. But the surrounding residential neighborhoods are by and large just ordinary 30s-40s bungalow homes, interspersed with infill cluster homes/townhomes. Nothing to write home about, and the prices are outrageous.

This remodel of a 1926 bungalow is $520K.

[Do onto others and all that]

Do ya think it has anything to do with the city trying to make up the money ($One Million a year$) they loose through mismanagement?