Carol Ott’s absentee-landlord-shaming project Baltimore Slumlord Watch has been raising awareness about vacants in disrepair — and raising the ire of blighted property owners — for five years. In that time she’s inspired similar websites in Richmond, Va.; Columbus, Ohio; and Philadelphia. And now, she’s getting full-on national attention. First on The Atlantic Cities, and now on NPR.
Ott is featured in a piece that aired yesterday on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” along with Baltimore street artists Tefcon and Nether who have been attempting to beautify neighborhood eyesores.
The segment gets some words from a life-long resident of a vacant-filled neighborhood who says he watched the sense of community disappear as the houses emptied. Then there’s some explanation of Ott’s website.
But what’s most interesting is the current collaboration between Ott and the street artists. When the artists put up a mural, they save a little wheat paste to affix a QR code to the property. Passersby can use the QR code with their smartphones cameras to visit the Baltimore Slumlord Watch page that gives information about the vacant.
Just an FYI — the street art project was actually Nether’s idea. I am the Director of Housing Policy Watch, as well as the person behind the Baltimore Slumlord Watch project. I provide logistical support and play the mom card once in a while for the art project.