After two years, neighbor demands action on five abandoned cars

A neighbor in a cul-de-sac is demanding that authorities remove five vehicles from a vacant property after two years of neglect. The resident, who signed a letter to advice columnist Abby as "Nettled Neighbor," states the house has been empty since a homeowner died suddenly. The homeowner's wife moved out of state, leaving the property to the couple's adult children. One son lives elsewhere, and one daughter resides with her mother. The neighbor reports that the family has not sold the home or moved the cars since the death occurred almost two years ago.

The property currently holds five cars. Two sit in the driveway, one is in the side yard, and two are parked in the street. The cul-de-sac has limited parking, which has caused friction among residents. The neighbor notes that the taillights are broken and one car has a window down, allowing local children to enter the vehicle. Bill collectors have visited the home to locate the owners, and utility bills remain unpaid. The neighbor called the daughter to discuss the situation. The daughter suggested the neighbor provide the son's phone number to the creditors. The neighbor is asking whether they are responsible for helping utilities and creditors contact the family.

The neighbor has taken on maintenance tasks for the vacant lot. They picked up litter that blew into the yard, raked leaves in the fall, and watered roses in the summer. The neighbor, who is older than the deceased owner, says they do not want to maintain two yards. They are asking when they can ask police to declare the cars abandoned and tow them.

Abigail Van Buren, writing as Dear Abby, responded to the letter. She stated that after two years, the situation has reached a breaking point. She told the neighbor to stop doing free yard work on the property. She described the abandoned cars as a safety concern and advised the neighbor to report them to the police immediately. Regarding the creditors, Van Buren said the neighbor should provide the son's contact information. She noted that while it is not the neighbor's responsibility, giving the number will stop the creditors from bothering them.

Van Buren advised the neighbor to create a detailed list of all unsightly concerns on the property. She recommended reporting everything to the city. She predicted that municipal fines will prompt the family to clean up or sell the house quickly.

The column also addressed a separate letter from a reader in Pennsylvania. This reader, identified as "Slighted in Pennsylvania," has been friends with a woman named Carolyn since seventh grade. Carolyn's husband died more than 10 years ago. A scholarship is awarded annually in his memory. This year, the reader's granddaughter graduated from high school. Carolyn's family awarded the scholarship to a different senior. The reader expressed hurt over the decision and asked how to handle the disappointment.

Van Buren responded to the Pennsylvania reader. She asked if the reader had considered that the selected student might have needed the scholarship more than the granddaughter. She stated that the friendship with Carolyn should not determine who receives the award. She advised the reader to handle the disappointment by recognizing that they were wrong to assume the granddaughter would receive the scholarship.

The Dear Abby column is written by Abigail Van Buren. For nearly four decades, Jeanne Phillips penned the column, which was founded in 1956 by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Readers can contact the column at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 270135, Kansas City, MO 64127.

The neighbor in the cul-de-sac has not yet reported the cars to the police or the property issues to the city, according to the letter. The son continues to visit the house about once a month to collect mail. The daughter remains in contact with the neighbor regarding the family's affairs. The utility bills remain unpaid, and the five cars remain in the same positions on the property and in the street.