The individuals below, all residents of Marietta's Hampton Lake community in East Cobb, are petitioning Cobb County to take action to address two abandoned/neglected homes in our neighborhood.

5039 Hampton Lake Drive was purchased 3 years ago and has since been left to deteriorate. In early days of ownership, building permits were obtained and demolition work was done - but no improvements have been subsequently completed and the building permits have long since expired. Multiple construction teams have appeared – then disappeared within days, with no improvements apparently made. Rotting plywood covers garage openings, grounds are unkempt, sidewalks have been destroyed, the porch overhang is supported by boards, there is obvious water damage - all signs of abandonment, inviting vagrants, squatters and animals to inhabit freely. While we’re not explicitly aware of illegal activities, the state of the house invites such use. It is, and has been for more than 2 years, a situation that endangers the health and safety of our children and residents.

4835 Hampton Lake Drive is also vacant and seriously neglected. The owner is not in residence; abandoned vehicles, overgrown trees blocking the driveway, trash and debris are accumulating. Neighbors complain of rodent and animal activity. This once-lovely home is an obvious abandonment, inviting squatters and vagrants to inhabit.

Both houses are in dramatic contrast to the other well-maintained homes in our community. We are at a loss to explain why this has happened in our neighborhood, while adjacent neighborhoods don’t seem to have such issues. These two homes are fire and safety hazards, are a blight on our community, and are unfit for human habitation.

The 2019 assessment increase is particularly upsetting in light of our home values decreasing due to these nearby major liabilities and eyesores.

Our HOA has been unable to influence these owners to take action. Multiple phone calls and letters to the owners have produced no changes. We are requesting that the County help us - please cite these homeowners for creating fire hazards, inviting animals and vagrants to inhabit, and creating distress in what has always been a lovely community.

And - if there are measures besides the Nuisance Abatement that the county recommends, would you be willing to address our HOA membership?

We welcome all to our community – but we feel compelled to ask Cobb County to take action to maintain the safety and value of our neighborhood.