HOUSTON – Exactly one week after 2 Helps You showed up to the corner of Ansbury Drive and Guese Road off the 610 Loop in north Houston, the neighborhood saw sunshine during a steady downpour.
The reason?
A small landscaping crew hired by the City of Houston cleaned up a neglected home in the community that had been the subject of 16 complaints to the city over the last four years.
Residents said they were tired of no one addressing their requests until 2 Helps You Investigator Mario Diaz showed up and got a commitment from the city that the eyesore would be addressed.
“As soon as I turned the corner, I was like, yes! Chop it all down,” said resident Amber Oliver, who stopped her vehicle to share her enthusiasm.
Residents said news of 2 Helps You getting things done in their neighborhood became the buzz on social media over the last few days. The workers showing up had the community feeling good.
“They’re here making it look all nice,” said Rolando Cano, who lives a few doors down.
When asked how concerned he was about the lot returning to its previous condition, Cano did not hesitate.
“A little concerned. I’m hoping they find a way to either take over the property or find somebody to take care of it,” he said.
2 Helps You took those concerns straight to City Hall on Wednesday afternoon and spoke with Randy Macchi, the man in charge of Houston Public Works. When asked what he had to say to residents who have called and emailed his department with similar situations in other parts of the city, Macchi apologized.
“One thing I say is I’m sorry. It shouldn’t be that way,” said Macchi.
2 Helps You also learned Macchi’s department is planning to add 100 more inspectors — doubling its current size — to help address concerns from residents and speed up a process that usually involves the courts.
Meanwhile, back on Ansbury Drive, residents were not the only ones smiling about the neighborhood makeover. Hector Hernandez, the leader of the landscaping crew, was smiling as well. Hernandez, who said he cleans several lots every month, was proud of the impact he and his team were making.
“We feel very good because we always leave everything very clean,” Hernandez said.
As for tips if you find yourself dealing with a similar situation, contact a member of your HOA board or civic club, as well as the organization’s president. However, don’t stop there. A call to the management team for your community’s HOA can also produce results. From there, contact your city council member as well as city services. Don’t forget to do it with a group of your neighbors because there is strength in numbers.
Lastly, if all else fails, email 2 Helps You’s Mario Diaz at mdiaz@kprc.com.