THE PROBLEM: As once envisioned, the former site of National City's Purple Cow Dairy would have residents paying down the sixth year of their mortgages by now.
THE SITE: Highland Avenue, National City
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But the planned redevelopment of the Highland Avenue property, owned by the city's Community Development Commission, was stalled, and the vacant property is encircled by a chain-link fence. The dirt lot and the strip between the fence and sidewalk have become something of a trash magnet, said Carlos Angeles, who lives around the corner on Bucky Lane.
Last week, the gate of the fence protecting the lot was lying on the ground, leaving a gap along Highland Avenue wide enough to drive a truck through. Inside, the collection of debris included a wheel cover, a beer carton and broken glass, and when a city worker went to check, there was an abandoned couch there, too.
STATUS: Vandals pulled the padlocked gate off its hinges sometime in the past couple of months, said Colby Young, project manager in the redevelopment division of the Community Development Commission. It was at least the second time it had been knocked down.
The gate was too heavily damaged to be repaired. But a National City public-works crew replaced it yesterday, just three days after Just Fix It called. The trash along the sidewalk side of the fence was gone by Tuesday.
WHO FIXED IT: Lauren Lauletta, a Neighborhood Council specialist in National City's Community Services Department, got the ball rolling on a job that eventually brought in help from the city's public-works, planning and redevelopment departments.
Similar problems in National City can be reported at (619) 336-4364 or by e-mail at neighborhoodservices@nationalcityca.gov.
NEED A PROBLEM SOLVED: Is there a problem that government hasn't taken care of despite your complaints? Whether it's a missing bus bench or a misspelled street sign, Just Fix It might be able to help.
Complaint forms are at justfixit.uniontrib.com, or call (800) 820-8714.
