Me thinks the opening of the highway isn’t far off…

It’s a project that I’m very attached to, and I’ve had my head down in code working on the third generation of the site, which launched late Sunday night. If you’re a foodie—read, if you like food—check it out. It’s a community site, so you can create an account, share recipes, review local restaurants, and salivate. I’ve been doing that a lot lately (working on the site and all).

Once I get a few more wrinkles ironed out, I’ll be finishing up the re-design of South of Sunnyside—it’ll add a bit of personality to my words, I promise.

Okay, your turn: what have you been up to?

So why are my neighbors hanging Christmas lights?

At least they’re taking their time and hiding all the cords…

Further east, the merge onto the old highway is completed, and can be driven on (it’s required, actually, if you want to travel past Temperance Ave.). So, what are they going to do over the next two years?

“Twitter is an important part of the City’s public outreach effort, so I’m excited to see so many citizens linking up with us in this way…I hope that more people will take advantage of technology like this to stay connected to City Hall.”

I was skeptical that the account would provide genuine connection—that it would be used as anything more than a public broadcast. I decided to test the waters with a series of questions about the growing number of chain drug stores popping up around town. Though they didn’t fully answer my questions, I was pleasantly surprised to receive responses.

I’ve had several interactions since—in fact, I seem to be one of only a handful of residents dialoging with the account, even with a list of almost 750 followers. Each interaction is more informative, and response more timely.

Case in point: After posting about dying trees in the neighborhood, I tweeted the link with a question about who to contact. I received a prompt reply; I also received a warning that funds are tight (my response). I called the next day, and on Friday received confirmation that the trees had been evaluated, and that corrective steps have been taken.

Win!

To Randy Reed, I offer kudos for embracing evolving tools for communication.

If you’re on Twitter, follow the City of Fresno.

I really hoped we had seen the worst of the housing market.

But this weekend, Kim talked to the neighbors and discovered that the family across the street is putting their home up for short sell; if it doesn’t sell within a few months, they’ve already decided they’ll just let it go.

The family that rents next to them will also be moving soon—the owners have previously neglected to care for the home, so I don’t have high hopes that they’ll maintain it now.

Three houses down from them, a home twice the size of ours is for sale for the price we paid for ours.

Around the corner from them, another home has been abandoned, and now bears the yellow stains of decaying grass. Another abandoned home sits another three houses down.

As if this didn’t fill my life with enough cheer, a significant number—as many as 20, perhaps—of the trees lining the south side of California Avenue between, Fowler and Clovis, look to be dying. I think our neighborhood is giving up on itself.

Perhaps these trees are over zealous with excitement about the eventual change of seasons. Maybe they’re simply not getting enough water. Whatever the cause of the browning leaves, it’s only affecting trees on the south side of the road. Our side of the road, that is.

Anyone know what it is?

CitiMortgage has expressed no interest in working with Kim and me to re-package our loans (that’s for another post)—at times it’s been tempting to think about joining the long line of neighbors who’ve just given up and walked away, but we just can’t do it.

We hoped to only live in this house for five years, and while our timeframe has expanded, we see signs of hope for the future (whether we later want to move or not). Just yesterday, in fact, Granville sent an encouraging email to homeowners, which documents good news. From the email:

For those who own a home and have seen their property values decline for the past several years, the end of that trend appears to have arrived and property values are beginning to recover in this area and around the country.

"The first chart illustrates the increase in sales prices since early this year, after the decline over the past few years."

"This graph illustrates the supply of homes for sale. As the home supply decreases real estate prices historically rise."

"The graph below illustrates the number of homes currently for sale that are currently under contract. Higher percentages indicate that there are more buyers than available homes. This is also an indicator of a strengthening housing market."

Based on delays at other locations, the issue seems moot, but I really am curious to know what SPOA supports, and how they justified their objections to the rezone that would have made this possible.

March 10, 2009

Sean Sagardia
President
Sunnyside Property Owners Association

Dear Sean,

My wife and I are Sunnyside property owners, residing in the Granville development south of the country club.

Several months ago—it may have been close to a year now—a representative from Granville shared with me plans for the vacant land that separates our neighborhood from Clovis Avenue. I was ecstatic to learn that these plans were anchored by Fresh & Easy, as our options for prepared food are very limited in Southeast Fresno. I’d prefer more restaurants, but I would certainly consider an option like Fresh & Easy as a step forward for our area.

Recently, The Business Journal outlined several proposed locations for the Fresh & Easy’s expansion throughout Fresno and Clovis; to my surprise, Sunnyside was not included in the list. I considered that the chain’s slowed development might be to blame, though other proposed locations were mentioned, but then I read in the recent edition of Sunnysider that SPOA has opposed the zoning change that would allow for the market, and that application has been put on hold.

I have no doubt that the mixed-use development described in the newsletter would increase traffic, but I’m curious to know if SPOA has access to any studies that quantify the specific affect on noise and traffic. Clovis Avenue, especially at this location, could handle additional vehicles—then again, such a development would serve residents already in the area more than it would provide a destination for those outside of Sunnyside.

I’d appreciate additional information on SPOA’s objections to this development and the required rezone. To that point, I’d also appreciate an outline of things—shared values, projects, plans for the future—that SPOA supports, as my only awareness at this point is of things the group has opposed.

Thank you for your time.

Kind regards,

James Collier

March 5, 2009

Law Offices of Danil Monteleone
8160 Tunney
Reseda, CA 91335

Dear Mr. Monteleone,
I’d like to thank you.

I attended the community meeting last week that you held for Granville homeowners. I was disappointed to hear that the previous night’s meeting was less than friendly, but I left the gathering quite optimistic.

You see, our neighborhood has seen every challenge imaginable: high foreclosure, negligent home owners, theft—of personal property, vehicles, the wire that passes power through to our streetlights. Add to this a variety of cultural and economic backgrounds, and there’s one thing that we have lacked: unity.

But you helped us find that. You helped us come together, and to find a common voice—a voice that I imagine is still ringing in your ears.

So, I’d like to thank you. But I just can’t muster enough respect for your business, or your personal ethic, to do so.

If you want to stir up doubt and prey on confusion, please do so elsewhere. You are not welcomed here.

A proud Granville owner,

James Collier