Dispute regarding trash cans for alley pick-up in DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Explain the situation ti the houses on either side of new neighbor and ask them if you can leave your cans there. Then tell new neighbor that you explained to everyone on the street that he wasn’t open to sharing space so now other neighbors have stepped up.

OMG there's something really wrong with you.

SMH.

no, it's a good solution. normally rowhouse neighbors are considerate of the weird property configurations that makes sharing space a necessity sometime. It's neighborly. If the new people don't want to be neighborly, they can't complain that word gets around.

Actually, normally neighbors make sure they can do whatever they need to do on their own property without claiming ownership or entitlement over someone else’s property.

There’s nothing stopping OP from modifying his fence to accommodate his need to have somewhere to put his trash cans. If he doesn’t want to do that, he can pay the neighbor to rent the land, hand over the cans to the waste collectors directly as required, or simply move.

As they say, poor planning on your side doesn’t constitute an emergency on mine.

Actually people normally use alley space exactly in the way OP describes. It may not be as simple as modifying a fence - and changing the fence may impact the neighbor's use of the *shared* fence ... I feel like you must not have ever lived in a rowhouse.

Also, OP may have a prescriptive easement anyway.

Then s/he’s going to have to go to court to prove it. Which is less costly- adjusting a fence by one segment to have room for trash cans, or dragging yourself to court.

OK then, my neighbor can go to court to get me to trim my tree that overhangs and clogs their gutter.

See how it works?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about just leaving the cans in the alley, thereby blocking car traffic (which is mostly your neighbors and cut through drivers). When neighbors complain that your cans are blocking the alley, you say you have no place to put the cans on your property and don’t think its your problem for some reason. I’m sure one of them won’t mind your putting your cans on their property.

fWIW, in our DC neighborhood, most row homes are fenced to the property line and cans just sit in the alley in trash day. People who drive just have to deal or get out and move the cans to pass by.

Fixed that for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Explain the situation ti the houses on either side of new neighbor and ask them if you can leave your cans there. Then tell new neighbor that you explained to everyone on the street that he wasn’t open to sharing space so now other neighbors have stepped up.

OMG there's something really wrong with you.

SMH.

no, it's a good solution. normally rowhouse neighbors are considerate of the weird property configurations that makes sharing space a necessity sometime. It's neighborly. If the new people don't want to be neighborly, they can't complain that word gets around.

Actually, normally neighbors make sure they can do whatever they need to do on their own property without claiming ownership or entitlement over someone else’s property.

There’s nothing stopping OP from modifying his fence to accommodate his need to have somewhere to put his trash cans. If he doesn’t want to do that, he can pay the neighbor to rent the land, hand over the cans to the waste collectors directly as required, or simply move.

As they say, poor planning on your side doesn’t constitute an emergency on mine.

Actually people normally use alley space exactly in the way OP describes. It may not be as simple as modifying a fence - and changing the fence may impact the neighbor's use of the *shared* fence ... I feel like you must not have ever lived in a rowhouse.

Also, OP may have a prescriptive easement anyway.

Then s/he’s going to have to go to court to prove it. Which is less costly- adjusting a fence by one segment to have room for trash cans, or dragging yourself to court.

OK then, my neighbor can go to court to get me to trim my tree that overhangs and clogs their gutter.

See how it works?

Wrong, he can cut any part of your tree back to his property line, thats the law. He doesnt even need to ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Explain the situation ti the houses on either side of new neighbor and ask them if you can leave your cans there. Then tell new neighbor that you explained to everyone on the street that he wasn’t open to sharing space so now other neighbors have stepped up.

OMG there's something really wrong with you.

SMH.

no, it's a good solution. normally rowhouse neighbors are considerate of the weird property configurations that makes sharing space a necessity sometime. It's neighborly. If the new people don't want to be neighborly, they can't complain that word gets around.

Actually, normally neighbors make sure they can do whatever they need to do on their own property without claiming ownership or entitlement over someone else’s property.

There’s nothing stopping OP from modifying his fence to accommodate his need to have somewhere to put his trash cans. If he doesn’t want to do that, he can pay the neighbor to rent the land, hand over the cans to the waste collectors directly as required, or simply move.

As they say, poor planning on your side doesn’t constitute an emergency on mine.

Actually people normally use alley space exactly in the way OP describes. It may not be as simple as modifying a fence - and changing the fence may impact the neighbor's use of the *shared* fence ... I feel like you must not have ever lived in a rowhouse.

Also, OP may have a prescriptive easement anyway.

Then s/he’s going to have to go to court to prove it. Which is less costly- adjusting a fence by one segment to have room for trash cans, or dragging yourself to court.

OK then, my neighbor can go to court to get me to trim my tree that overhangs and clogs their gutter.

See how it works?

Wrong, he can cut any part of your tree back to his property line, thats the law. He doesnt even need to ask.

Wrong, our property is configured so that the tree can only be accessed on my lot. They would have to have the tree trimmers repel off their roof to trim it from their property. Versus - just being a normal neighbor, and I would be perfectly happy to trim it annually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Explain the situation ti the houses on either side of new neighbor and ask them if you can leave your cans there. Then tell new neighbor that you explained to everyone on the street that he wasn’t open to sharing space so now other neighbors have stepped up.

OMG there's something really wrong with you.

SMH.

no, it's a good solution. normally rowhouse neighbors are considerate of the weird property configurations that makes sharing space a necessity sometime. It's neighborly. If the new people don't want to be neighborly, they can't complain that word gets around.

Actually, normally neighbors make sure they can do whatever they need to do on their own property without claiming ownership or entitlement over someone else’s property.

There’s nothing stopping OP from modifying his fence to accommodate his need to have somewhere to put his trash cans. If he doesn’t want to do that, he can pay the neighbor to rent the land, hand over the cans to the waste collectors directly as required, or simply move.

As they say, poor planning on your side doesn’t constitute an emergency on mine.

Actually people normally use alley space exactly in the way OP describes. It may not be as simple as modifying a fence - and changing the fence may impact the neighbor's use of the *shared* fence ... I feel like you must not have ever lived in a rowhouse.

Also, OP may have a prescriptive easement anyway.

Then s/he’s going to have to go to court to prove it. Which is less costly- adjusting a fence by one segment to have room for trash cans, or dragging yourself to court.

OK then, my neighbor can go to court to get me to trim my tree that overhangs and clogs their gutter.

See how it works?

Wrong, he can cut any part of your tree back to his property line, thats the law. He doesnt even need to ask.

Wrong, our property is configured so that the tree can only be accessed on my lot. They would have to have the tree trimmers repel off their roof to trim it from their property. Versus - just being a normal neighbor, and I would be perfectly happy to trim it annually.

If any part of your tree canopy--doesn't mean the trunk--overhangs your neighbor's property, your neighbor has the right to trim that part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your expectations are the definition of entitlements. And banding together to shame a new neighbor who has done nothing wrong is just horrible. You reconfigure your property to create a space for your trash removal. Even asking other neighbors for space is presumptuous: when they have an extra large trash day will they have to accommodate you?

These new neighbors paid for full use of their property and have no presumed obligation to house your waste. Get over yourself!

you get over yourself. people in DC have been cooperatively using alley space forever. people who can't handle being cooperative should move to sfh in the suburbs. next thing you know you'll be demanding that your neighbors' houses stop touching yours ...

No some do some do not. It’s mostly the people who get the benefit from using someone else property that are quick to talk about cooperation. I remember one situation where 5 neighbors had built out to the edge of their properties and would park their cars in the alley behind their fences. The only way they could do this was because one neighbor did not build out or use his property to park a car. The house was sold and the new owner wanted to park two cars on their property but it would end the parking for the other 5. In this neighborhood parking was very tight and each parking spot added 100k in today $.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your expectations are the definition of entitlements. And banding together to shame a new neighbor who has done nothing wrong is just horrible. You reconfigure your property to create a space for your trash removal. Even asking other neighbors for space is presumptuous: when they have an extra large trash day will they have to accommodate you?

These new neighbors paid for full use of their property and have no presumed obligation to house your waste. Get over yourself!

you get over yourself. people in DC have been cooperatively using alley space forever. people who can't handle being cooperative should move to sfh in the suburbs. next thing you know you'll be demanding that your neighbors' houses stop touching yours ...

No some do some do not. It’s mostly the people who get the benefit from using someone else property that are quick to talk about cooperation. I remember one situation where 5 neighbors had built out to the edge of their properties and would park their cars in the alley behind their fences. The only way they could do this was because one neighbor did not build out or use his property to park a car. The house was sold and the new owner wanted to park two cars on their property but it would end the parking for the other 5. In this neighborhood parking was very tight and each parking spot added 100k in today $.

Of course the are legitimate disputes, but the point is - the culture is to cooperate where possible, not to rigidly defend your property line. because the nature of alleys and 100+ year old rowhouses is that you are going to need something from your neighbor eventually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Explain the situation ti the houses on either side of new neighbor and ask them if you can leave your cans there. Then tell new neighbor that you explained to everyone on the street that he wasn’t open to sharing space so now other neighbors have stepped up.

OMG there's something really wrong with you.

SMH.

no, it's a good solution. normally rowhouse neighbors are considerate of the weird property configurations that makes sharing space a necessity sometime. It's neighborly. If the new people don't want to be neighborly, they can't complain that word gets around.

Actually, normally neighbors make sure they can do whatever they need to do on their own property without claiming ownership or entitlement over someone else’s property.

There’s nothing stopping OP from modifying his fence to accommodate his need to have somewhere to put his trash cans. If he doesn’t want to do that, he can pay the neighbor to rent the land, hand over the cans to the waste collectors directly as required, or simply move.

As they say, poor planning on your side doesn’t constitute an emergency on mine.

Actually people normally use alley space exactly in the way OP describes. It may not be as simple as modifying a fence - and changing the fence may impact the neighbor's use of the *shared* fence ... I feel like you must not have ever lived in a rowhouse.

Also, OP may have a prescriptive easement anyway.

Then s/he’s going to have to go to court to prove it. Which is less costly- adjusting a fence by one segment to have room for trash cans, or dragging yourself to court.

OK then, my neighbor can go to court to get me to trim my tree that overhangs and clogs their gutter.

See how it works?

Wrong, he can cut any part of your tree back to his property line, thats the law. He doesnt even need to ask.

Wrong, our property is configured so that the tree can only be accessed on my lot. They would have to have the tree trimmers repel off their roof to trim it from their property. Versus - just being a normal neighbor, and I would be perfectly happy to trim it annually.

If any part of your tree canopy--doesn't mean the trunk--overhangs your neighbor's property, your neighbor has the right to trim that part.

Obviously I know that. The point is - if my neighbor is cooperative, then I will trim the tree myself. If not, he can pay $100s to an arborist who is willing to trim the tree from his roof and somehow not drop the limb in my yard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Explain the situation ti the houses on either side of new neighbor and ask them if you can leave your cans there. Then tell new neighbor that you explained to everyone on the street that he wasn’t open to sharing space so now other neighbors have stepped up.

OMG there's something really wrong with you.

SMH.

no, it's a good solution. normally rowhouse neighbors are considerate of the weird property configurations that makes sharing space a necessity sometime. It's neighborly. If the new people don't want to be neighborly, they can't complain that word gets around.

Actually, normally neighbors make sure they can do whatever they need to do on their own property without claiming ownership or entitlement over someone else’s property.

There’s nothing stopping OP from modifying his fence to accommodate his need to have somewhere to put his trash cans. If he doesn’t want to do that, he can pay the neighbor to rent the land, hand over the cans to the waste collectors directly as required, or simply move.

As they say, poor planning on your side doesn’t constitute an emergency on mine.

Actually people normally use alley space exactly in the way OP describes. It may not be as simple as modifying a fence - and changing the fence may impact the neighbor's use of the *shared* fence ... I feel like you must not have ever lived in a rowhouse.

Also, OP may have a prescriptive easement anyway.

Then s/he’s going to have to go to court to prove it. Which is less costly- adjusting a fence by one segment to have room for trash cans, or dragging yourself to court.

OK then, my neighbor can go to court to get me to trim my tree that overhangs and clogs their gutter.

See how it works?

Wrong, he can cut any part of your tree back to his property line, thats the law. He doesnt even need to ask.

Wrong, our property is configured so that the tree can only be accessed on my lot. They would have to have the tree trimmers repel off their roof to trim it from their property. Versus - just being a normal neighbor, and I would be perfectly happy to trim it annually.

If any part of your tree canopy--doesn't mean the trunk--overhangs your neighbor's property, your neighbor has the right to trim that part.

Obviously I know that. The point is - if my neighbor is cooperative, then I will trim the tree myself. If not, he can pay $100s to an arborist who is willing to trim the tree from his roof and somehow not drop the limb in my yard.

If your property is on the other side of the alley, trimming the tree isnt going to be that big of a deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Explain the situation ti the houses on either side of new neighbor and ask them if you can leave your cans there. Then tell new neighbor that you explained to everyone on the street that he wasn’t open to sharing space so now other neighbors have stepped up.

OMG there's something really wrong with you.

SMH.

no, it's a good solution. normally rowhouse neighbors are considerate of the weird property configurations that makes sharing space a necessity sometime. It's neighborly. If the new people don't want to be neighborly, they can't complain that word gets around.

Actually, normally neighbors make sure they can do whatever they need to do on their own property without claiming ownership or entitlement over someone else’s property.

There’s nothing stopping OP from modifying his fence to accommodate his need to have somewhere to put his trash cans. If he doesn’t want to do that, he can pay the neighbor to rent the land, hand over the cans to the waste collectors directly as required, or simply move.

As they say, poor planning on your side doesn’t constitute an emergency on mine.

Actually people normally use alley space exactly in the way OP describes. It may not be as simple as modifying a fence - and changing the fence may impact the neighbor's use of the *shared* fence ... I feel like you must not have ever lived in a rowhouse.

Also, OP may have a prescriptive easement anyway.

Then s/he’s going to have to go to court to prove it. Which is less costly- adjusting a fence by one segment to have room for trash cans, or dragging yourself to court.

OK then, my neighbor can go to court to get me to trim my tree that overhangs and clogs their gutter.

See how it works?

Wrong, he can cut any part of your tree back to his property line, thats the law. He doesnt even need to ask.

Wrong, our property is configured so that the tree can only be accessed on my lot. They would have to have the tree trimmers repel off their roof to trim it from their property. Versus - just being a normal neighbor, and I would be perfectly happy to trim it annually.

If any part of your tree canopy--doesn't mean the trunk--overhangs your neighbor's property, your neighbor has the right to trim that part.

Obviously I know that. The point is - if my neighbor is cooperative, then I will trim the tree myself. If not, he can pay $100s to an arborist who is willing to trim the tree from his roof and somehow not drop the limb in my yard.

If your property is on the other side of the alley, trimming the tree isnt going to be that big of a deal.

Look, this just shows you don't understand how crazy the lots can be in DC. Only way for them to trim the tree is from my lot or their roof.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We also lived in a DC rowhouse with alley trash pick up. I put our cans out front on the street side on trash pick up days (which is the case for all the houses on each end of a rowhouse block without alley access anyway). I get that it's not convenient and that there are all sorts of "sharing" arrangements in an alley but this seems to be on you.

If you store your trash cans in your front patio area, that technically violates DC regs.

The new neighbors may technically have the right to block access (if there is no easement) but it's a dick move that is not going to help them feel welcome, and may have consequences if they ever have to cross or access their neighbors' property (for example to repair an adjoining wall.)

Yeah, that is definitely not universally true. Walk around Capitol Hill and you’ll find hundreds of houses without alley access or a rear exit. We are required to keep our trash in front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We also lived in a DC rowhouse with alley trash pick up. I put our cans out front on the street side on trash pick up days (which is the case for all the houses on each end of a rowhouse block without alley access anyway). I get that it's not convenient and that there are all sorts of "sharing" arrangements in an alley but this seems to be on you.

If you store your trash cans in your front patio area, that technically violates DC regs.

The new neighbors may technically have the right to block access (if there is no easement) but it's a dick move that is not going to help them feel welcome, and may have consequences if they ever have to cross or access their neighbors' property (for example to repair an adjoining wall.)

Yeah, that is definitely not universally true. Walk around Capitol Hill and you’ll find hundreds of houses without alley access or a rear exit. We are required to keep our trash in front.

You can take your trash out to the curb for pickup, but storing your trashcans in front of your house technically violates the regs, becuase the space past your building line is actually public space. So if you can't keep them in the alley in non-public space, I guess you have to keep them in your house.

https://chrs.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/06_CHRS_PublicSpace.pdf

[Anonymous]

Where do you store your garbage can during the rest of the week op?

[Anonymous]

I still don’t understand why you can’t leave the tea cans in the alley on trash day. That’s what most people do around me. Obv you can’t leave them there during the week.

Some people have space because they have a parking pad or an in fenced yard (like us) but some people do not and just leahe their cans outside their fence. Yes it blocks the alley a bit but that’s city life on trash days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I still don’t understand why you can’t leave the tea cans in the alley on trash day. That’s what most people do around me. Obv you can’t leave them there during the week.

Some people have space because they have a parking pad or an in fenced yard (like us) but some people do not and just leahe their cans outside their fence. Yes it blocks the alley a bit but that’s city life on trash days.

True. If that's your official "trash collection point" per DPW, then it's an apppropriate use of public space. But OP's issue is that the alley (collectively) had come to a solution that let them maximize the use of the commons for everyone. Now the new neighbors want to disrupt that for their selfish reasons.