Messy Detroit house has community crying foul

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Livestock, laundry and lumber have turned a house in Detroit's Warrendale neighborhood into a serious eyesore. People have tried complaining to the city, but now they're calling the FOX 2 Problem Solvers for help.

"Look at the trash all over," says Joanne German, who owns property in the neighborhood. "Look at it! It's been like that forever."

At least for a year and a half. That's when Randy -- he didn't wish to give us his last name -- moved into the house in the Warrendale neighborhood on Detroit's west side. FOX 2 got a complaint from the Warrendale community organization, so Charlie Langton thought it was about time we talk to Randy.

FOX 2: "Hey Randy, ... we got some complaints from neighbors about your yard."

"Yep, cleaning it up as we speak," he tells Langton. 

Randy admits that all the stuff is his, yet he's out of work and money is tight. But he says he's working on the house.

"Four layers of shingles tore off," Randy says. "I am doing it by myself. I am an engineer. I grew up on a farm. I am digging fence posts. I have a garden. Everybody wants to look at the negative side of things, there is positive things going on. Pruned trees, yard mowed."

But Sylvia Santana, the president of the Warrendale Community Organization begs to differ.

"This gentleman has been issued citation after citation," she tells Langton.

Randy admits the law has been after him and says he'll be back in court in October. He also adds that he grew up on a farm and reminded us that Rome wasn't built in a day.