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Community Building

Removing chain link fences to beautify a neighborhood

October 21, 2014 By Ryan Lundquist 13 Comments

photo from SNRIt’s easy to make idols out of athletes and celebrities, but who are the real heroes? I’m not saying sports figures and musicians can’t be worthy of respect and admiration, but in my book the most heroic people I know are normal everyday individuals walking out the grind of life – yet living out a sense of vision to make a difference. This is exactly who Amanda Dodd is, and I wanted to interview her because she is doing amazing work in the Oak Park neighborhood of Sacramento.

Several years ago Amanda started a volunteer effort called Neighbors Without Borders, which removes front yard chain link fences for the sake of beautifying the neighborhood. You might think chain link fences have no effect on real estate, but read The verdict on chain link fences and property value. Moreover, ask yourself when the last time was you saw a builder install chain link fencing in a tract home subdivision. If you really want to go deeper, check out a study of Diggs Town Public Housing to see the power of a focus on traditional neighborhood design. This isn’t about judging anyone who has a certain type of fence, but only highlighting the reality that the way a neighborhood looks tends to say something. Right or wrong, outsiders will judge whether a community is safe or even pleasant by its appearance.

Enjoy the interview and be inspired. What do you think of Amanda’s work?

chain link fences and property value - by sacramento appraisal blog

Ryan: First off, Amanda, why don’t you introduce yourself. Who are you and what do you do?

Amanda: I’m a  resident of Oak Park, Wife, Mom of a 1 year old little boy, and Clinical Social Worker who works part-time in Private Practice.

Ryan: How long have you lived in Oak Park?

Amanda: I’ve lived in Oak Park for 6 years

Ryan: What do you like most about the neighborhood?

Amanda: I love the architecture–the Bungalows, Victorians, and history of the area. I love that I can walk to the post office and mail a letter, or walk through beautiful McClatchy Park on my way to the bank. The diversity here is amazing, and there is a huge sense of community unlike anywhere else. People are so involved and the energy is contagious.

before and after chain link fence removal - sacramento appraisal blog

Ryan: Explain what your project is and how it began.

Amanda: When I moved to Oak Park in 2008, the first thing I noticed was how friendly and open people were. One neighbor was dropping vegetables off on my porch, people were waving hi to each other and stopping to talk…this was in stark contrast where I moved from. In Natomas, the yards were well-manicured and front yards were open, but I never met any neighbors in 4 years of living there. In Oak Park, however, people were so open and friendly, yet my street was covered in chain link and iron fences in front of almost every house. The irony was not lost on me. I noticed that the beautiful architecture of these hundred-old houses was covered up and hidden behind street after street of chain link and metal. It was so sad to me that the true beauty of the neighborhood, besides the people who reside here, would be covered up like that. So, I researched other cities such as Toronto and Boston who have done fence removal projects in certain neighborhoods, and they reported a decrease in crime, and an increase in sense of community. I wanted to do that here too.

Ryan: What is your role in the project, and who else volunteers?

Amanda: I came up with the idea of Neighbors Without Borders five years ago, and didn’t get much support around it. Then this past year, decided to try and resurrect it. I came together with a committee and we talked about how to get the idea out there, and we educated ourselves on how to take down fences. We removed about five this summer. Victor Duron is my co-partner and has been an essential part of this process. I couldn’t have done it without his support.

before and after chain link fence removal - 2 - sacramento appraisal blog

Ryan: Did you ever imagine you’d be doing this?

Amanda: I think I’ve always had a mindset toward change. I’m a social worker by nature, and when I see something that can be better, I want to get my hands dirty and go there.

Ryan: Why is removing chain link fencing a big deal for the neighborhood?

Amanda: There is nothing necessarily wrong with having a chain link fence; many people need fences to keep in dogs or children, and chain link is the most cost-effective fence you can put up. However, when you look down a street and see a solid line of fence metal, the street appears to be almost prison-like, or  a compound. The underlying message that is communicated is,  “Keep Out” or “This is a not a safe neighborhood”. Aesthetically, it can appear cold and unwelcoming. So a first time visitor to Oak Park  would likely  get the opposite idea about the types of people who live here.  Also, I think the biggest misconception is that “Fences keep you safe”. Research shows otherwise, and I have talked to many people who have had their house broken into even though they have a fence. A fence is not going to stop someone who wants to get in. I think fences can definitely bring about a false sense of security. If you look at the safest neighhorhoods in Sacramento, they don’t have any fences in their front yards.

Ryan: It seems kind of touchy to ask someone if a chain link fence can be torn out. How do you pull that off without offending residents or making them feel isolated?

Amanda: This is a good question because having a fence is a personal decision for everyone, and each person has a reason for having a fence. My goal is that people examine their reasons to see if they are no longer applicable. Maybe they put the fence up in the 80’s when the neighborhood was much less safe. Maybe the previous owner had a dog and they have just left it up as a matter of convenience. We don’t force people to remove their fences, or pass judgment on why people leave them up. Basically, our services are an offer for anyone who wants them.

before and after rehab by The Oak Park Team - Sacramento Appraisal Blog

Ryan: What would your quick response be if someone said, “My house has always had a chain link fence. It’s not bringing down the neighborhood.”

Amanda: I wouldn’t even argue that. It’s their decision. Maybe their particular fence isn’t bringing down the neighborhood, but collectively, the 14 other fences on the same street might not be sending the most open message.

Ryan: How do you let other people know about your project’s services?

Amanda: We have announced our services at Oak Park meetings, and have mailed letters offering our services. Also, word of mouth. In a community like Oak Park, people know what’s going on and talk to each other.

Ryan: Do you only focus on chain link fences?

Amanda: Right now, yes.

before and after chain link fence - the oak park team

Ryan: Is chain link difficult to remove? What do you do with it once it’s taken down?

Amanda: It’s surprisingly so easy! I bought some bolt cutters and a sawzall, and two people can take it down from start to finish in about half an hour! We have people who pick up the fence to sell as scrap metal to recycling centers.

Ryan: Lastly, in just a few words, how would you sum up what is happening in the Oak Park neighborhood right now?

Amanda: So much energy! People who live here can’t stop talking about all of the change.

—————————————————————————————————————

I hope you enjoyed the interview. Thank you Amanda for your time, and keep up the incredible work. If anyone wishes to connect with Neighbors Without Borders, email oakparkbeautiful@gmail.com. It’s easy to see the need for change, but rare to find individuals willing to help start to make change happen. If you are considering helping your neighborhood connect or grow in the right direction, why not get started? You just might be the right person at the right time to get the ball of change rolling. If not you, then who? Thank you also to The Oak Park team (Micah & Sam) for letting me use some photos.

Questions: What stood out to you most about the interview? What are your thoughts on chain link fences? Oak Park residents, how would you describe the neighborhood right now?

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Filed Under: Random Stuff Tagged With: Appraisal, Appraiser, chain link fences, Community Building, Interview, neighborhood beautification, Neighbors Without Borders, Oak Park, Property Value, removing chain link, Sacramento Neighborhood, The Oak Park Team

Make your neighborhood stronger by doing a BBQ

July 5, 2013 By Ryan Lundquist 2 Comments

One of the truths in real estate is that you buy into a neighborhood. You don’t just purchase whatever exists between your parcel lines, but rather a community. Many times it’s easy to forget this though because of how normal it is to drive home, close the garage door as soon as possible, and live an isolated life from neighbors. This is understandable because of the way society is, but over time as a neighborhood becomes a group of parcel islands instead of a united tribe, it makes the community weak and invites crime too.

National Night Out Logo 2013Let me share a simple way to help neighborhoods connect. The first Tuesday in August (8/6/13) is “National Night Out“, which is a fantastic opportunity to mingle with a few neighbors on the front lawn. This is a national event where residents get together across the United States to build community and in the process stand against crime. This is for any neighborhood, whether values are low or high, and it’s for renters and owners alike.

Can you really do this? Each year my household hosts this event for my neighborhood, so I am obviously passionate about it. Since it has been such a rich experience for my family, I wanted to mention it here and encourage anyone reading to consider hosting a potluck this year for your street. Yes, I know life is busy (mine is too). The truth though is each community needs someone to get the ball rolling to help neighbors connect in a small way like this. Let’s face it, nobody really wants to be the initiator, but it’s thankfully not a big thing to pass out some flyers on your street, get a few neighbors on board and go potluck style. In fact, read my 10 tips for hosting a community BBQ to help you get started. The truth is neighborhoods grow stronger when events like this happen because residents have the opportunity to build relationship and communicate about the neighborhood. What if you got the ball rolling this year by hosting a simple BBQ in August? What could happen in your community if residents began to steer the neighborhood to communicate a bit more?

National Night Out BBQ last year

I’m around if you have any questions or simply need some advice for getting neighborhood communication or your BBQ off the ground.

Community Building 101: In case it might be helpful, I wrote a series called “Community Building 101″ a few years ago. If you are tinkering with the idea of how to begin to improve your neighborhood, this short mini-essay series might be relevant. Let me know what you think. Download HERE (pdf).

Question: What is the best experience you’ve ever had when it comes to connecting with neighbors? I’d love to hear below.

If you liked this post, subscribe by email (or RSS). Thanks for being here.

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Filed Under: Random Stuff Tagged With: Community Building, Community Building 101, connecting with neighbors, how to host a community BBQ, how to strengthen your neighborhood, National Night Out 2013, NNO, overcoming isolation, take a bite out of crime

Cutting a ribbon to improve a neighborhood

December 15, 2011 By Ryan Lundquist 2 Comments

It’s been an extraordinary week. I’ve been working on a community project since January and I am very pleased to have seen the effort come to a close this week as the ribbon was cut on a new neighborhood entrance sign. In short this project was really about removing a large pillar that had become a hiding place for negative activity, and in turn beautifying a neighborhood entrance.

If you want to understand what we did a bit more and how we did it, feel free to watch the video below of the ribbon cutting ceremony, and make sure to check out my friend Andy Gee’s photos of the event. It’s great to see residents come together to solve an issue and I’m very proud to have been a part of a team of doers to bring results where they were needed.

Improving a neighborhood happens when we get intentional together. It’s about placing our focus on solving problems and building relationships instead of fences. It’s about recapturing a mindset to be available to other residents in the community. So when we begin to do small things like wave to passersby, get stuck in conversation with neighbors, introduce ourselves to someone who just moved in, BBQ in the front yard, or even hang up lights during the holidays, we are adding life to the community. Sure, there will be a time and place for big projects, but most of the strength of a community is not found in big events, but in the small daily interactions we all have.

Why do you think many neighborhoods have grown more isolated over the years?

If you have any questions or Sacramento area real estate appraisal or property tax appeal needs, contact me by phone 916-595-3735, email, Facebook, Twitter or subscribe to posts by email.

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Filed Under: Random Stuff, Videos Tagged With: Andy Gee, Community Building, isolation in a community, Neighborhood Improvement, Rancho Cordova, Ribbon Cutting, Solving problems in the community

The importance of community building

November 15, 2011 By Ryan Lundquist 2 Comments

“Community Building” often feels like a buzzword, but when neighbors get intentional and begin to act on behalf of their community, it’s really powerful. Have you ever experienced that? How so?

While it might feel normal to be isolated from neighbors these days, a community is really only as strong and deep as its communication. Isolation simply does not work well for neighborhoods over the long haul no matter what the economics and demographics are for a community. This doesn’t mean we all need to be extraverted best friends, but only that a lack of communication will increase the likelihood of neighborhood decay.

This is very real to me because I believe philosophically in the ideas mentioned above, and I am also a practitioner. Last Saturday I was able to partner with residents in my neighborhood to plan a clean-up for a stretch of county-owned land near Light Rail tracks. There were 25 or so neighbors, and in just a few short hours we built a fence and spruced up a patch of land that needed some loving. The result? This cleaned-up site can now be a catalyst for pride, and is a small win for neighborhood residents, the surrounding community and even property values.

What do you think sometimes hinders residents from working together to deal with neighborhood issues?

Community Building 101: In case it might be helpful, I wrote a series called “Community Building 101” a few years ago. If you are tinkering with the idea of how to begin to improve your neighborhood, this short mini-essay series might be relevant. Let me now what you think. Download HERE (pdf).

If you have any questions, or real estate appraisal or property tax appeal needs in the Greater Sacramento Region, contact Lundquist Appraisal by phone 916-595-3735, email, Facebook, Twitter or subscribe to posts by email.

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Filed Under: Videos Tagged With: appraisal service in Sacramento, appraisers in Sacramento, Community Building, Community Building 101, love your neighbor as yourself, Lundquist Appraisal Company, neighborhood clean-up, planning a neighborhood clean-up, Real Estate Appraiser in Sacramento, Sacramento Real Estate Appraiser, the golden rule

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