PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 Some homeowners in a north Phoenix neighborhood are pretty upset about what\u2019s going on behind their backyards.<\/p>\n
They claim the wash that runs between dozens of homes off Bell Road and 35th Street<\/a> is not being maintained and is putting neighbors at risk<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very frustrating,\u201d said PJ Jones, who lives nearby.<\/p>\n Overgrown bushes, giant weeds, trash and debris can be seen throughout the area. Steven Ligidakis lives next to the wash and says that what\u2019s going on is a serious threat to the community.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a fire hazard,\u201d said Ligidakis. \u201cI\u2019ve walked through there before where weeds and grass are as tall as I am, and just dry and dead.\u201d<\/p>\n A few months ago, someone set Ligidakis\u2019 back fence and shed on fire late at night. Home security cameras caught the terrifying moments after it went set.<\/p>\n \u201cThis whole shed was completely engulfed 30 feet in the air,\u201d said Ligidakis. \u201cIt singed trees and plants 40 feet away and melted the shade cover.\u201d <\/p>\n Ligidakis believes the person who set the fire was a transient living in the wash. He said that people experiencing homelessness will often set up camp and then disappear.<\/p>\n The homeowner and his neighbors can\u2019t understand why no one has come out to address their concerns, despite numerous attempts to contact city, county, and state officials. So, they reached out to Arizona\u2019s Family for help.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be nice if they just moved it and cleaned it or secured it or something,\u201d said Ligidakis.<\/p>\n Arizona\u2019s Family did some research and found that the property in and around the wash used to be privately owned, but was recently acquired by the state of Arizona. Maricopa County is currently acting on behalf of the state to sell this parcel of land.<\/p>\n The cleanup is expected to start the first week of September, something Ligidakis and his neighbors insist should have happened a long time ago.<\/p>\n \u201cIf any property looked like that, the state would be all over me,\u201d said Ligidakis. \u201cThe city would be all over me, and should be held to the same standard. They should have to clean their properties just like they force us to do.\u201d<\/p>\n The City of Phoenix released this statement:<\/p>\n The City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department is going to clean the area to address the community\u2019s concerns. Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS) outreach staff visited the property yesterday and did not find anyone experiencing homelessness in the area. OHS has not received any reports of concerns surrounding homelessness there since 2024. The City encourages residents to report concerns about encampments to PHX C.A.R.E.S.<\/a> online<\/a> <\/a>or by calling: 602-262-6251\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The City and its partners will work together to ensure the area is maintained until the land is sold. For information on property ownership, you can contact Maricopa County. <\/p>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n