“They stay on the front steps and porch drinking, doing drugs and having sex in public.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Rich Renomeron

“Dear PoPville,

There is a a growing problem on Georgia Avenue that authorities have not taken action. There is a group of men that are loitering outside what seems an abandoned home in the 5800 block Georgia Avenue NW on a 24 hour basis.

They stay in the front steps and porch drinking, doing drugs and having sex in public. Since it’s not a lit area, the group has grown from a couple to individuals to a sometimes crowd. Not only are they littering and damaging a neighborhood that is looking to improve, but they actively harass the public that walks by or parks on the street as patrons of the few business on the block. In some instances even having drunken individuals laying passed out on the sidewalk, hanging personal clothing garments on the parking meters and signs and even threatening local neighbors.

In addition, it is said that they may have been involved in the house fire of a foreclosed property on the other side of the block.

When the authorities have been called they have not been of help and at best have told neighbors that they can’t do anything unless the owner of the building files a complaint. From the general knowledge, the property is owned by a corporation with several partners that have abandoned several properties on the block due to difference in opinion. Please help us.”