Dispute regarding trash cans for alley pick-up in DC

[Anonymous]

I know both these neighbors, and I'm one of the people who puts out my cans on someone else's patch of property, with no problem. Some people suggest we change our fencing. Actually, the new guy suggested that, too. We are not rich people and this neighborhood is not a rich neighborhood. If we all had his money, maybe we all would change our fences. Maybe he should pay for it. He can be like his neighbors and put community before self twice a week, or have us all think he is a selfish gentrifier. He made his choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know both these neighbors, and I'm one of the people who puts out my cans on someone else's patch of property, with no problem. Some people suggest we change our fencing. Actually, the new guy suggested that, too. We are not rich people and this neighborhood is not a rich neighborhood. If we all had his money, maybe we all would change our fences. Maybe he should pay for it. He can be like his neighbors and put community before self twice a week, or have us all think he is a selfish gentrifier. He made his choice.

Maybe he could storage stuff in your basement or use your car?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP—Any time we get a huge snowstorm, be sure to shovel all the snow in the alley on to that 5 x 8 strip of grass and up against his gate and on top of his trash cans.

You seriously think someone as selfish and entitled as OP is out there shoveling snow??

Selfish = disrupting the way neighbors have managed common space cooperatively for 10 years.

Its not common space.

the ALLEY is public space. ffs. please stay in Montana.

[Anonymous]

All these people who want to declare other peoples' property "common area"...yeah that is how it worked year ago. And it worked because there was an understanding that if you used someone else's thing that you would do something for them...in this case maybe it is maintain that space, or bring their cans in and out.

What I've seen is as the newer crowd comes in they feel entitled to use other people's property as their own, without recompense. You can smell the entitlement of OP from a mile away. So the property owner did what is perfectly in their right to do, and assert their interest in their own property. OP has a number of choices, including just putting her cans out in the alley like many other people and as intended by DPW. Or, she can figure out a way to take off the alley and put on her own property.

BTW having lived on an alley and in the burbs, this isn't something special that only alley living snowflakes deal with. The "keeper of the alley" grows up to be the "mayor of the street" in suburbia and cites the town grass height in her passive aggressive listserv posts.

[Anonymous]

OP's neighbor here. The new guy doesn't want the cans in the alley because it is narrow and cans block cars
He also doesn't want cans on his property. I asked him today where people should put cans. His answer: "I don't know."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP's neighbor here. The new guy doesn't want the cans in the alley because it is narrow and cans block cars
He also doesn't want cans on his property. I asked him today where people should put cans. His answer: "I don't know."

Just put the cans in the alley. He can't control more than his little patch of grass. If he doesn't want OP's cans there, that's his right, but he can't also dictate what happens in the alley, all he has provenance over is his patch of grass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP—Any time we get a huge snowstorm, be sure to shovel all the snow in the alley on to that 5 x 8 strip of grass and up against his gate and on top of his trash cans.

You seriously think someone as selfish and entitled as OP is out there shoveling snow??

Selfish = disrupting the way neighbors have managed common space cooperatively for 10 years.

Its not common space.

the ALLEY is public space. ffs. please stay in Montana.

But the grass strip is not. Alk he did was change the use of the grass strip, which is private property

[Anonymous]

OP, why is moving the fence not an option?

I understand the rules to leave cans in the alley. I understand the convention to keep the alley clear and to use available strips of grass to put out cans.

But can there be a new convention when you adjust your fence to accommodate your trash cans on pickup days? Cut a portion of the existing fence and move it back two feet - it may be expensive but it seems that would be the responsible thing to do.

[Anonymous]

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.

+1

Hint: If you mob the new neighbor, the neighbors will inevitably know it was you who did it, and that tactic inevitably backfires. Every time. Don't be THAT neighbor, especially if you plan on living in your house a long time. No one likes you and your antics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All these people who want to declare other peoples' property "common area"...yeah that is how it worked year ago. And it worked because there was an understanding that if you used someone else's thing that you would do something for them...in this case maybe it is maintain that space, or bring their cans in and out.

What I've seen is as the newer crowd comes in they feel entitled to use other people's property as their own, without recompense. You can smell the entitlement of OP from a mile away. So the property owner did what is perfectly in their right to do, and assert their interest in their own property. OP has a number of choices, including just putting her cans out in the alley like many other people and as intended by DPW. Or, she can figure out a way to take off the alley and put on her own property.

BTW having lived on an alley and in the burbs, this isn't something special that only alley living snowflakes deal with. The "keeper of the alley" grows up to be the "mayor of the street" in suburbia and cites the town grass height in her passive aggressive listserv posts.

Given your lack of reading comprehension, I'm not sure why anyone should listen to you ... And yes, it is specific to DC/alleys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, why is moving the fence not an option?

I understand the rules to leave cans in the alley. I understand the convention to keep the alley clear and to use available strips of grass to put out cans.

But can there be a new convention when you adjust your fence to accommodate your trash cans on pickup days? Cut a portion of the existing fence and move it back two feet - it may be expensive but it seems that would be the responsible thing to do.

Once again, the existing fence very likely belongs to a different neighbor, or moving it will impact them. There's NO way to get around cooperating with your neighbors when you live in rowhouses. Your walls are literally shared.

[Anonymous]

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.

+1

Hint: If you mob the new neighbor, the neighbors will inevitably know it was you who did it, and that tactic inevitably backfires. Every time. Don't be THAT neighbor, especially if you plan on living in your house a long time. No one likes you and your antics.

DP. Ha ha, that's actually not what happened in our case. New neighbors decided to be d*cks, and all the other neighbors called them on it. "THAT" neighbor is the one who decides to take actions that negatively impact everyone (blocking the alley with trash cans.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, why is moving the fence not an option?

I understand the rules to leave cans in the alley. I understand the convention to keep the alley clear and to use available strips of grass to put out cans.

But can there be a new convention when you adjust your fence to accommodate your trash cans on pickup days? Cut a portion of the existing fence and move it back two feet - it may be expensive but it seems that would be the responsible thing to do.

Once again, the existing fence very likely belongs to a different neighbor, or moving it will impact them. There's NO way to get around cooperating with your neighbors when you live in rowhouses. Your walls are literally shared.

Cooperating does not mean demanding to use the neighbors property. Can he demand to park in your driveway because his car will not fit in his?

[Anonymous]

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.

+1

Hint: If you mob the new neighbor, the neighbors will inevitably know it was you who did it, and that tactic inevitably backfires. Every time. Don't be THAT neighbor, especially if you plan on living in your house a long time. No one likes you and your antics.

DP. Ha ha, that's actually not what happened in our case. New neighbors decided to be d*cks, and all the other neighbors called them on it. "THAT" neighbor is the one who decides to take actions that negatively impact everyone (blocking the alley with trash cans.)

You mean take his property? What gives you the right to take someone else’s property? You are just a common thief. Why is it so hard to understand that you have to keep your things on your property? There is always someone like you in a row house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP's neighbor here. The new guy doesn't want the cans in the alley because it is narrow and cans block cars
He also doesn't want cans on his property. I asked him today where people should put cans. His answer: "I don't know."

Just put the cans in the alley. He can't control more than his little patch of grass. If he doesn't want OP's cans there, that's his right, but he can't also dictate what happens in the alley, all he has provenance over is his patch of grass.

Yeah, this is the right answer. It stinks, but there's really no other choice.