Walker Watch

The Sidewalks Need Some Serious Love

I don't know about how you feel about the sidewalks on Walker and Cheney Avenues, but almost everyday that I push Harper down the street in his stroller for a daily walk around the block, I curse them. The situation has been slowly getting worse, kind of like the proverbial loose thread in a sweater - once it starts to unravel it is really hard to stop.

It won't be long in my mind before some trips and falls and really hurts themselves. I can't imagine all the kids on the block learning to ride their bikes on these sidewalks, not to mention them running wildly down the street without paying attention...

Suffice it to say that the problem is not just a nuisance, but a growing safety hazard. The problem is caused by a number of different factors, one being tree growth. As a tree's root system expands it often has no where to go but sideways underneath the sidewalk, and thus, the pavement buckles. But another major cause of sidewalk and curb degradation are cars parking on them. Sidewalks were simply not build to withstand a two thousand plus car sitting and driving on top of them.

This morning on my way to work, I took a slew of pictures documenting just how bad the problem is. Walker Avenue's problems exist primarily in two places - one is in front of the City Parking Lot on Walker Avenue where the sidewalks have largely been damaged by tree roots. The second is in front of the notorious Cheney House whose curbs were actually destroyed by the contractors who built the condominiums acorss the street.

The sidewalk situation on Cheney, however, is unavoidable. Almost the entire sidewalk on side of the street is cracked, destroyed or impassable.

I have created a photo gallery documenting the problem and will be sharing it with the City soon. Stay tuned for further updates.

Making a mountain out of a mole hill

I spoke with the Chief Inspector of the Oakland Blight Department just a moment ago to inform him of the most recent developments with the Cheney House. Those of you in the neighborhood may have been noticing a slowly growing mound of dirt located in the owner's driveway, a mound that is over twice as large now as it was when this picture was taken:

I directed the inspector to this blog and to the photo gallery that contains a photo history of the property. He told me how helpful these photos were to him, and he promised he would drop by the property today to take pictures of his own, to document the property formally.

I also informed him of the roof situation (i.e. "there is no roof") and asked if there was anything he could do to compel the property owner to install a roof, or at least cover it. He said there was and he would be contacting the property owner soon.

For those in the neighborhood concerned about this property, please consider leaving a comment. The city is watching this blog and I want them to hear from people other than myself. Please lend me your voice!

"The Cheney House"

Over the past couple of years, our neighborhood has slowly watched the grandest house on the block, fall increasingly into disrepair and now into a desolate rotting shell. The property owner has been repeatedly been warned by Oakland's Blight Enforcement Department to clean up.

Then one day early this year, the neighborhood lit up with hope. The owner returned, started caring for the yard and grounds, and then proceeded to begin what appeared to be a renovation project. The owner came in a demolished the interior, leaving only the studs. Then they stripped off the roof. They carted tons of debris and it was great to think for a moment that the owner was going to finally invest and improve the property and this great house.

That was in August. It is now November and nothing has changed: over 50% of the windows of the house are broken, another 25% are bordered up, there is a huge gaping hole in the side of the house from an old fire, debris and garbage is still piled up along the side of the house, the house is without a curb, and the lawn completely overgrown and ridden with weeds.

Oh yeah, and the house still has no roof. And guess what happened yesterday? The rainy season officially began. Thanks for that. Now the house will begin mildewing and rotting - further blighting the neighborhood with a house that is literally falling apart.

But why? What on earth could be the owner's motive? Are they simply lazy? Do they not care? What on earth could they possibly have to gain?

Well apparently, the law provides property owners, under certain circumstances, to re-zone their property, if for examples, it comes under hardship. Which a derilect house would qualify as.

There are two things that bother me about this situation. The first is the fact that a property owner on our street is exploiting loopholes and weaknesses in the very system designed to protect this neighborhood from people like him. And second, that even if the property is ultimately improved upon, the owner did so in such a way that clearly showed contempt for the rest of the property owners on the street by allowing his property to become a stain on the neighborhood.

If you live in the neighborhood, I implore you to call Oakland's Blight Report Hotline at 510-238-3381. Tell them that you would like to report a violation at 484 Cheney, in Oakland. Tell them that you would like something done about this house now. If they would like to see the house for themselves, send them the photo gallery I set up detailing the issues with the house.

Please, I implore you - we need to do something about this house before it is too late.