Nov. 4--All nine of the city of Knoxville's neighborhood codes enforcement inspectors will be on the prowl for violations in the Parkridge community today, but they won't be writing any citations.

Officials emphasize that the intensive, single-day sweep through the East Knoxville neighborhood, beginning at 9 a.m., is part of a new educational effort to make property owners aware of deficiencies and give them a chance to remedy any problems.

"It's not a crackdown," said David Brace, the city's Public Service Director, who oversees Codes Enforcement. "This is us being visible and accessible. We want people to see us out there trying to solve problems."

The city's traditionally complaint-driven codes enforcement process receives 12,000 to 13,000 calls each year. And while the enforcement sweep is part of a new, larger initiative ultimately aimed at countering the growing problem of blighted and/or vacant properties throughout the city, Brace said most complaints require relatively easy fixes.

"The bulk of the our calls are real simple (to fix) -- buy a $20 trash can, mow your lot," he said.

Cynthia Stancil, a spokeswoman for the Parkridge Community Organization, has lobbied for a more proactive city approach to codes issues in the neighborhood, which has seen several historic home renovations in recent years yet still struggles with neglected lots and low-income rental housing owned by absentee landlords.

Advance notice signs posted ahead of the sweep, though, already seem to have made a difference, she said.

"I've noticed some brush cleared, just some things spruced up a bit," Stancil said.

Brace said that today's effort would strictly offer "courtesy notifications," although formal citations could be issued during expected follow-up visits within the next two weeks. Enforcement sweeps in other neighborhoods are likely to follow.

A joint Knoxville-Knox County public meeting also is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Cansler YMCA, 616 Jessamine St., to discuss best practices used across the country to confront blight and vacant-property problems.

Hayes Hickman may be reached at 865-342-6323.

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