Posted on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 14:29 — by Paul Burgarino
Hey everyone, this weekend I'm writing a story about neighbors taking the clean-up of the yards of vacant homes into their own hands. Just curious what's going on in your neighborhoods? I know in my neighborhood there are some people who pick up trash, etc. and in my parents area by Mira Vista Hills the cops arrested someone breaking into a foreclosed home.
Thanks, stay cool. Paul
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1709
The home next to ours was recently vacated. The house is in good shape but they let the front and back lawns die a while back. They left the front yard pretty trashy and I was going to clean it up but our other neighbor beat me to it. She's taken it upon herself to keep our street looking decent and I certainly appreciate that. I'm going to do my best to keep the front of the vacant home next door looking as good as is feasible so as not to attract the wrong element.
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 102
We live in Diamond Ridge. A nice neighborhood but we aren't exempt from what everyone else has been experiencing.... Turn around in homeowners with different values, foreclosures, litter, dead yards and undesirable activities. I have seen neighbors in my neighborhood, weed, mow and pick up litter. Of course, these are the veterans in our neighborhood as we have been here since the homes were built 17 years ago. We have seen the deterioration over the years and we are most sad about it. Just today, one of our neighbors had their garbage can set on fire.
What’s the matter with people! This area is in walking distance to Contra Loma Regional Park. We are a short drive from Black Diamond Regional Park. We have a beautiful golf course around the corner. There are new schools in walking distance and shopping near by. Can’t people recognize the amenities this neighborhood has to offer? I just don’t get it and I am tired of it.
But there is hope…..
Last year a vandal took our development signs at both entrances making our division look broken and sad. Well, one good neighbor and his wife had had enough of that and I saw them out at the entrance installing a beautiful new sign. I had to stop and thank them. They would not except any contributions. They are retired and have been in the neighbood almost as long as I have. They said they were tired of waiting for a new sign so the husband made a new sign and installed it himself. It’s beautiful. I wanted to cry I felt so much hope that day.
We need to take our neighborhoods back. If you walk daily, stop and pick up the litter you pass. If your neighbor is having trouble keeping there yard in good repair, ask them if they need a hand. If you see folks in your neighborhood that you know don’t belong or look suspicious, take the plate down and call the police. Chances are there is drug activities going on. I know, I had it going on my corner.
I am hopeful Diamond Ridge will soon shine again.
You all hang in there!
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2441
I was driving on James Donlan by the old dump and I looked over and saw a person along the side of the road with one of those grabbers picking up litter. I thought, either they own the old dump and wanted to give it curb appeal, or they just took it upon themselves to pick up other people's litter along the raod. It was on Sunday and not a roadside crew so I think it was just an individual going the extra mile. It was great to see that.
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1709
Dee, I guess we're in the minority in today's mobile society. My neighbor who's helping keep the neighborhood clean and I have been here since the homes were built 17 years ago as well. It's too bad you seem to have to have owned a home for years before you take some pride in your property. Maybe it's just the way you're brought up. When my wife and I were renters years ago, our landlord didn't want to lose us because we made a lot of improvements to the home and yard with his permission. He was more than willing to pay for them as long as I got his approval.
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 136
i clean across our house every 2weeks. can't say if somebody lives there.. also have one of those "grabbers" lol
one of the houses for sale in my street had overflowing trash cans on the front yard for weeks. i send a email to the city and within 1 week they were picked up.
the owner/ bank or whoever is responsible for it. they also should cut the grass etc.
may be the people who write tickets for trash cans, should write tickets for front yards?
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 14
Thanks, Paul, for the article today........especially useful will be the contact numbers to call when houses in our neighborhoods do end up going vacant. Much appreciated.
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 45
where is this article posted?
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 39
http://www.contracostatimes.com/antioch/ci_10002009
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 102
http://www.contracostatimes.com/search/ci_10002009?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com