City staff says residents have been receptive to new
program.

[view:node_ad=5]Over the summer, the city of Santa
Clarita launched a new program called Extreme
Neighborhood Makeover, with the goal to work with residents to bring select
older neighborhoods up to code, and to energize the residents to take pride in
their homes and communities.

The first neighborhood was located in Canyon Country, and
the program kicked off with a “block party” where food was provided for the
residents, and they were informed about all the codes the City has in place.

Also, a teamwork theme was established as the City
coordinated discounted contractors and organized volunteers to help do
revitalization work; from raising a new fence to landscaping.

City crews then replaced buckled sidewalks and planted new
trees.

Cruz Caldera, from the City’s community preservation
department, talked to KHTS and explained the progress seen in that neighborhood
over the last two months.

“We’ve seen new lawns being planted in the front yard,
inoperable vehicles that have never moved in years…they’re being relocated
elsewhere,” he said. “It’s been a success so far, because we’ve taken a
cooperative approach. Property owners are seeing a buy-in from the city.”

That level of success has surpassed some early expectations.

“It’s about 80% of the property owners that are working with
us,” said Caldera, referring to the percentage of people who are working with
the city to correct code violations.

Caldera says that some of the fixes are simple, and can be
corrected with a little paint or tlc. However, even the big projects are
getting done and he’s noticing a greater sense of pride taking root in the
neighborhood.

One example is a resident who, at the time of the kickoff
block party, had no lawn in the front yard, just dirt and a camper shell. When Caldera
and co-worker Curtis Williams drove through the neighborhood this week, they
noticed that the home had completely landscaped the front yard, following a
similar theme as the neighbor.

Such stories have helped kick plans of the next neighborhood
makeover into high gear. East Newhall will be the next
recipient of the project, and KHTS will report on those plans next week.