Topic: Absentee Landlords and Slumlord Behavior
Report Re: Benwhite Investments, LLC
Owners: Ben Barngrover and Bobby White
Letters From Residents
This section will be devoted to letters or emails from residents. Any commentary by Berwyn Bankruptcy about the subject matter of these letters will be found HERE
Do You Want To Treat Berwyn Like A Slum?
You Have Nothing To Fear
We Will Protect You - The Building Department Is Your Friend
The Following Is From A Resident
You Have Nothing To Fear
We Will Protect You - The Building Department Is Your Friend
The Following Is From A Resident
The photo above on the left was taken on December 1, 2013. Numerous complaints were made to Benwhite Investments LLC, owned by Ben Barngrover and Bobby White over several months. Two containers were provided in January 2014 which were inadequate for the amount of garbage generated by this location. It took until May of 2014 for the owner to provide an additional two containers for this location.
The photos below (on the left and right) illustrate that even four containers are not enough to accommodate the waste generated at this location. This quantity of excessive garbage has been a typical sight at this location since December 1, 2013. (As you can see, it made little difference whether there were two containers or four containers. Obviously the waste disposal needs of this property are quite large).
The photo on the right (above) suggests that someone should contribute a quart of paint to Benwhite Investements, LLC allowing them to paint the garage door. Apparently they are spending their rental income on other things.
About the photo in the middle below? The condition of the rear of the building as illustrated in the middle photo (below) remains somewhat of a mystery in the neighborhood. The old vinyl siding was flapping in the wind and a complaint was made to the city and to Benwhite Investments, LLC about the condition of the siding. Months ago they began to install new siding and then suddenly stopped. It is unclear as to whether they ran out of money, ran out of siding, developed a fear of heights or did not have a ladder that was long enough to finish the job. In any event, to this day (June 12, 2014) it remains in the condition as presented in the photo.
The photos below (on the left and right) illustrate that even four containers are not enough to accommodate the waste generated at this location. This quantity of excessive garbage has been a typical sight at this location since December 1, 2013. (As you can see, it made little difference whether there were two containers or four containers. Obviously the waste disposal needs of this property are quite large).
The photo on the right (above) suggests that someone should contribute a quart of paint to Benwhite Investements, LLC allowing them to paint the garage door. Apparently they are spending their rental income on other things.
About the photo in the middle below? The condition of the rear of the building as illustrated in the middle photo (below) remains somewhat of a mystery in the neighborhood. The old vinyl siding was flapping in the wind and a complaint was made to the city and to Benwhite Investments, LLC about the condition of the siding. Months ago they began to install new siding and then suddenly stopped. It is unclear as to whether they ran out of money, ran out of siding, developed a fear of heights or did not have a ladder that was long enough to finish the job. In any event, to this day (June 12, 2014) it remains in the condition as presented in the photo.
The photos are clear evidence of an ordinance violation and a health hazard where the disposition of waste is concerned. Excessive garbage has been a chronic problem at this location since December 1, 2013. Numerous complaints have been made about this chronic condition.
In addition to the slum aesthetics, open waste containers foster rat populations and disease. The source of this chronic problem is its ownership, Benwhite Investments, LLC. Mr. Ben Barngrover along with Mr. Bobby White, own Benwhite Investments, LLC. Of course, when you meet them, they are simply the nicest guys "in the whole wide world".
Mr. Barngrover was contacted numerous times over the last several months to advise him of this chronic condition. He promised to resolve the problem immediately which, of course, was a promise made months ago. Apparently the term "immediately" means different things to different people, in this case over six months.
Note that each two-flat is automatically entitled to have 4 waste
containers, presumably 2 for each floor of the two-flat.
These photos taken in May of the excessive garbage condition were sent to Benwhite Investments, LLC as well as the Berwyn Building Department. Ben Barngrover responded by saying among other things, "Leave us alone. Find another building to complain about, there are plenty worse than ours."
Yes, he said this in writing.
In addition to having contacted the Berwyn Building Department in this instance, the Building Department had been contacted on several other occasions over the last few months regarding this chronic problem. On only one occasion did they respond to the complaints and the response was in the form of a phone call to to advise that they "had everything under control" even as the waste containers appeared as they do in the photos.
As a matter of fact, the so-called blight "inspector" has driven past this condition several times without so much as stopping. He was waived down during one of his "drives down the alley" and questioned about the blight. He showed less than a little concern saying that "there was only so much he could do".
Now you might be inclined to blame the tenants for the condition of this property. However, are the tenants the problem here? The tenants seem to be nice people. Landlords are obligated to inform the tenants of their obligations under city ordinance and health laws. If the lease is written intelligently, these obligations are clarified in the lease. It would be unfair to blame the tenants for the failures of the landlord or the negligence of the city government.
Lease or no lease, if the landlord fails to supply adequate housing which includes an adequate number of waste containers, the landlord is liable and not the tenant. Health hazards are not location specific as they also threaten the surrounding neighborhood. If the landlords' tenants have disposal needs that exceed the use of 4 waste containers, the landlord is obligated to provide the tenant with those waste containers.
Literally dozens of citations could have been written by now if there was a diligent Berwyn Building Department guided by politicians who cared about Berwyn.
The "I Love Berwyn" political party doesn't feel the love quite that deep except, of course, in an election year when union members and city employees will come around knocking on doors and telling you that they will shovel your sidewalk "compliments of Bobby". The other three years you are on your own.
Some neighbors have suggested that this building, owned by Benwhite Investments, LLC, is the subject of "over-crowding". I don't know. Chronic excessive garbage is often an over-crowding "red-flag". What kind of a screening process do you suppose a slumlord initiates when stuffing his property with rent paying occupants? Hopefully a screening process much worse than the screening process initiated by Benwhite Investments, LLC.
Do you suppose that Benwhite Investments, LLC advised the tenants that Berwyn's laws permit only 2 people per legal bedroom? If Benwhite Investments, LLC failed to advise their tenants of this law, possibly there is an excessive number of people living in this Berwyn two bedroom two-flat.
Do you suppose the mayor of Berwyn cares? Do you suppose the Berwyn Building Department cares? Do you suppose that they even have a plan to effectively address the over-crowding problem? Do you suppose that, in the 50 years that the "I Love Berwyn" democrat party has been managing Berwyn, they have even tried to develop a plan to solve the over-crowding problem?
And yet, you keep voting them into office.
Verified with photos and copies of emails
May 29, 2014
Name Withheld For Privacy Considerations
In addition to the slum aesthetics, open waste containers foster rat populations and disease. The source of this chronic problem is its ownership, Benwhite Investments, LLC. Mr. Ben Barngrover along with Mr. Bobby White, own Benwhite Investments, LLC. Of course, when you meet them, they are simply the nicest guys "in the whole wide world".
Mr. Barngrover was contacted numerous times over the last several months to advise him of this chronic condition. He promised to resolve the problem immediately which, of course, was a promise made months ago. Apparently the term "immediately" means different things to different people, in this case over six months.
Note that each two-flat is automatically entitled to have 4 waste
containers, presumably 2 for each floor of the two-flat.
These photos taken in May of the excessive garbage condition were sent to Benwhite Investments, LLC as well as the Berwyn Building Department. Ben Barngrover responded by saying among other things, "Leave us alone. Find another building to complain about, there are plenty worse than ours."
Yes, he said this in writing.
In addition to having contacted the Berwyn Building Department in this instance, the Building Department had been contacted on several other occasions over the last few months regarding this chronic problem. On only one occasion did they respond to the complaints and the response was in the form of a phone call to to advise that they "had everything under control" even as the waste containers appeared as they do in the photos.
As a matter of fact, the so-called blight "inspector" has driven past this condition several times without so much as stopping. He was waived down during one of his "drives down the alley" and questioned about the blight. He showed less than a little concern saying that "there was only so much he could do".
Now you might be inclined to blame the tenants for the condition of this property. However, are the tenants the problem here? The tenants seem to be nice people. Landlords are obligated to inform the tenants of their obligations under city ordinance and health laws. If the lease is written intelligently, these obligations are clarified in the lease. It would be unfair to blame the tenants for the failures of the landlord or the negligence of the city government.
Lease or no lease, if the landlord fails to supply adequate housing which includes an adequate number of waste containers, the landlord is liable and not the tenant. Health hazards are not location specific as they also threaten the surrounding neighborhood. If the landlords' tenants have disposal needs that exceed the use of 4 waste containers, the landlord is obligated to provide the tenant with those waste containers.
Literally dozens of citations could have been written by now if there was a diligent Berwyn Building Department guided by politicians who cared about Berwyn.
The "I Love Berwyn" political party doesn't feel the love quite that deep except, of course, in an election year when union members and city employees will come around knocking on doors and telling you that they will shovel your sidewalk "compliments of Bobby". The other three years you are on your own.
Some neighbors have suggested that this building, owned by Benwhite Investments, LLC, is the subject of "over-crowding". I don't know. Chronic excessive garbage is often an over-crowding "red-flag". What kind of a screening process do you suppose a slumlord initiates when stuffing his property with rent paying occupants? Hopefully a screening process much worse than the screening process initiated by Benwhite Investments, LLC.
Do you suppose that Benwhite Investments, LLC advised the tenants that Berwyn's laws permit only 2 people per legal bedroom? If Benwhite Investments, LLC failed to advise their tenants of this law, possibly there is an excessive number of people living in this Berwyn two bedroom two-flat.
Do you suppose the mayor of Berwyn cares? Do you suppose the Berwyn Building Department cares? Do you suppose that they even have a plan to effectively address the over-crowding problem? Do you suppose that, in the 50 years that the "I Love Berwyn" democrat party has been managing Berwyn, they have even tried to develop a plan to solve the over-crowding problem?
And yet, you keep voting them into office.
Verified with photos and copies of emails
May 29, 2014
Name Withheld For Privacy Considerations
Update: As of late summer 2014
The siding job has finally been completed on the building and the garage door painted. However, over-flowing garbage in the alley behind this property continues to be a chronic condition and health hazard.
The siding job has finally been completed on the building and the garage door painted. However, over-flowing garbage in the alley behind this property continues to be a chronic condition and health hazard.
NOTICE: Send Us Your Photos And Story
Do You Have A Slumlord Problem Or Blight Condition In Your Neighborhood? Feel free to send us photos and information about the problems on your block.
Do You Have A Slumlord Problem Or Blight Condition In Your Neighborhood? Feel free to send us photos and information about the problems on your block.
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