Neighbors in a Gwinnett County neighborhood said an abandoned home is more than an eyesore, it's a safety risk.

"Every day you pull out, and it's just a mess, and it's time for me to trim his bushes back again," said neighbor Cynthia Brant.

"Never should have gotten to this point," neighbor Barry Gage said.

Several neighbors on Fitzpatrick Way said they haven't seen the owner of the home in nearly two years. But they are faced with the mess growing around his home every day.

Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh found overgrown bushes nearly as tall as the home and a jungle of a backyard. Neighbors told Kavanaugh they cut the grass out front every couple of weeks.

"It affects property values. It is terrible," Gage said.

Residents said they believe it affects their safety.

Their biggest concern is two tall but dead pine trees in the front yard. Several branches have already fallen.

"And we're just afraid one of the neighbors car or one of the kids walking to the pool are going to be there underneath them when they fall down," Brant said.

"Nobody seems to care," Gage said.

Gage sent Kavanaugh a letter he also sent to Gwinnett County and Peachtree Corners city officials. On Tuesday, Kavanaugh discovered confusion over which entity is responsible for getting this property up to code.

Gwinnett County officials told Kavanaugh Peachtree Corners is doing its own code enforcement now that it is an incorporated city.

Peachtree Corners said it has an intergovernmental agreement with the county to continue using county code enforcement officers.

"It's such a nice neighborhood, you hate to have one house make it look bad," Brant said.
The confusion has left these neighbors in temporary limbo.

Gwinnett County police said one of their code enforcement officers has been attempting to track down the owner in order to issue him a citation and plans to follow up.

Kavanaugh could not get more details because the officer is out of the office until next week.

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