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Resident urges authority and city to address repeated dumping at 2708 Downing and reconsider bulky-pickup policy
Summary
A resident and developer, Donald Crenshaw, told the authority during public comment that illegal dumping at 2708 Downing is recurring, criticized a $1,400 enforcement fine tied to water bills and urged the city and authority to restore more flexible bulky-item pickup to reduce repeat dumping.
During the public-comment portion of the meeting, resident and neighborhood developer Donald Crenshaw told the authority that illegal dumping is recurring at 2708 Downing and urged the city and authority to work together on pickup policy and cleanup.
Crenshaw praised a local volunteer, identified as Aaron, for visible cleanup efforts and said he had offered through his LLC to demolish and level a building at lower cost than previously proposed. He told the board a newly adopted ordinance allows the city to bill a $1,400 garbage fine to a property owner’s water bill, which can lead to water service shutoff if unpaid. Crenshaw said that enforcement practice risks compounding homelessness if the initial responsible party is not the billed owner and recommended restoring an unlimited or more flexible bulky-item pickup policy so homeowners and adjacent property owners can better manage disposal without risking disproportionate fines.
Why it matters: Recurrent dumping affects neighborhood blight, the authority’s property stewardship, and residents’ ability to maintain properties. Crenshaw framed his comments as a request to coordinate cleanup and disposal policy rather than as an appeal for enforcement in a specific case.
Key points
- Location: 2708 Downing (spelled both "Downing" and "Downey" during comments; the speaker initially referenced Downing).
- Complaint: Repeated illegal dumping on vacant lots and on properties the speaker owns or manages; a recent load was dumped on property adjacent to his office.
- Policy concern: A new ordinance allows a $1,400 fine for garbage in front of a property to be billed to a property owner’s water account; the speaker warned that can compound problems if the billed owner is not the original dumper.
- Offer: Crenshaw said his LLC previously offered to remove a building at lower cost and is continuing to develop housing in the neighborhood.
Crenshaw closed by saying he is available to work with the authority and that his goal remains creating affordable housing and workforce-training opportunities tied to rehabilitation work.
