First Villa West Neighbors

Are you as tired as I am of having trash out on your block for pick-up every day but Saturday and Sunday?? Calahan neighborhood at one point apparently had nearly 20 trash companies operating within their boundaries. And we probably have as many. The heavy trucks damage the streets. And the neighborhood is never trash-free. We lose an awful lot of "curb appeal" under these conditions. Plus it's probably not even sanitary. What can we do about it? Let's hear from you.

I Agree!

I agree with your comments with trash day every day. If you drive through any of Lakewood's neighborhoods you see trash every weekday by the curb, it is unsightly! Our neighborhoods do indeed suffer. Email your council person and let them know if you agree this is a problem in the neighborhoods of Lakewood.

No Covenant Enforcement

Unfortunately the covenants that were set forth when the homes in Cloverdale (and obviously the surrounding neighborhoods) were built, have no enforcing agency. The homeowners association has no authority to do anything about violations. Anything goes. This includes, but is not limited to:
1.Unsightly articles - ...bring your trailers, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, graders, trucks, boats, tractors, campers, wagons, buses, sleighs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, snow removal equipment, garden and maintenance equipment, commercial vehicles, lumber, shrub and tree clippings, metals, bulk materials and scrap and any sort of trash. It's all OK in Lakewood. And by the way you can leave uncovered trash cans out in front of your house as lawn ornaments.
2. Nuisances - ...and don't worry if your dogs bark incessantly, if their feces piles up in the back yard or if they viciously attempt to attack every passerby. If you would like to build widgets in your garage, it's alright if the sounds of your power tools pierce the neighborhood.
3. Structures - If your space becomes a little cramped you can slap some studs and plywood up against your cute 50,s brick ranch, and call it an addition. The "architectural committee" loves tacky hodge-podge additions.
The point is that most of the residents of our neighborhood work hard to keep their properties neat, clean, maintained and landscaped, in consideration of common aesthetics, their neighbors senses, and local property values. There are, however, many of a different sensibility, who seem to have a blind spot when it comes to aesthetics. There is no way I can think of to tactfully enlighten these yahoo's. I feel bad for the people (mostly the older folks) who have to tolerate some of the uglyness the others are unaware of. So I am moving out to a heavily covenented community where people take in their trash cans at night and wouldn't think of storing a 30' RV in front of their house. Goodbye Lakewood - I won't miss the barking dogs.