SOUTH NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A South Nashville home that sat in disrepair for more than two decades has been sold and is now being rehabilitated, following years of neighbor complaints, environmental court action, and a "Hannah Can Help" report.
The property on Southwood Drive had long been a source of frustration for those living nearby. Neighbors filed more than a dozen complaints with Metro Codes over the last four years alone, and court records show code violations dating back to a tall grass citation in 2004.
Todd Faulkner, who lives next door, described the home's condition before the sale.
"The gutters are all down, the fascia's been pulled down, there's holes in the roof that go into the attic, it's just... I'm afraid it's beyond redemption," Todd Faulkner said.
The older, out-of-state owner of the property had not maintained it for years. According to neighbors, each summer, grass and weeds grew taller than 12 inches, prompting repeated calls to Metro Codes. While the property had been taken to environmental court, the Faulkners said the cycle continued without resolution.
"I think I filed 14 complaints. [Todd] would follow up on them, and then he finally said, 'We can't wait any longer,'" Susan Faulkner said, describing the moment her husband said to contact NewsChannel 5.
Around the time the original "Hannah Can Help" story aired in July, the previous owner was hit with two $50-a-day fines — one for high grass and another for debris stored outside. An environmental court case against him remains open.
Hannah Can Help
Nashville neighbors say code complaints haven't fixed an abandoned property
"It was remarkable how much movement we got on it after this story aired," Todd said.
At the end of August, the property sold. A new owner is now rehabilitating the one-acre lot.
"Everything back here was so dense that the grass couldn't get any sunlight," Todd said of the property's previous condition.
The Faulkners say the transformation has been significant. After years of watching the property deteriorate, they now look forward to watching it come back to life.
"He's got great plans. He's going to totally restore it," Susan said. "It's going to be an adorable little bungalow,"
The Faulkners walked NewsChannel 5 onto the property after getting the current owner’s permission for our crew to be there.
Have a problem that needs solving? Hannah Can Help. Email HannahCanHelp@NewsChannel5.com.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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