The Call

Made my first 911 call tonight. After walking my rounds around the complex I found a group of teenage kids in the alley and a fight was starting. I called the cops but because my stupid phone's touch screen app sucks so bad it took forever to get through. Once I hung up the fight happened and was over in a few minutes.

I go to back to my apartment and kick it with my neighbor a bit, who is 19 and renting from JD. He told me about Rent-a-center, and his HBO. I am pretty sure he dealing drugs to pay for all of it and his schooling but he moves out tomorrow so nothing much I can do about that.

Anyway, I'm talking to my neighbor for awhile and then one of the fighters from the alley walks up and talks to us (hands busted and covered in blood). His name is Izzey and he is 15 with a baby on the way; which I guess is what started the fight with his baby's mama's brother. He had a few cuts, like a boxer, around his right eye.

I got a small mouse in my apartment as well. Just put traps out and hopefully will catch something in the morning. I don't even know what I'm gonna do with it if I do get a live one.

My neighbor said too that the complex looks a lot better than when he moved in. Testimony to progress is encouraging.

James 3:18
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Yesterday I met with Angie Isaak and Esko Siipola. One does code enforcement in Lowell and the other handles the Police issues. It was good to know that they would help me and collaborate with me on the apartments and surrounding neighborhood. They asked me "How did you get involved with something like this?" and I started to talk about Pink House and FIFUL and then they say; "Oh, Phil!" and they said they were all for me after that if I was with him.

Apparently, the last police call response to my apartments was on January 12th (before I moved in) and apparently two guys were fighting and one was using a bottle rocket.

Monday, I might be showing potential new tenants (my friends as well) the complex. Mixed income community is what I am hoping for. With Fulton 55 opening this Friday, more people will definitely wanna live in the area and be apart of the downtown community.


Digging for treasure:

Proverbs 22:2

Rich and poor have this in common:
   The Lord is the Maker of them all

There is a rolling gate now for the other half of the apartment tenants (even though they don't exist yet; but when they do exist, so will their cars the next day).



Talked to the Market owner across the street and he was saying he's been in the neighborhood for 6 years. He told me he's seen a lot, especially transience.I would like to talk to him more and see what specifics he would like to see change in the neighborhood and maybe partner with him on the ones he says that favor the Los Pinos as well.

On a final note, I saw the Lowell Horseman today. This guy rides around Lowell on a huge Clydesdale horse. I remember KMPH did a story on him one time and I believe he does what he does as a ministry thing. A pretty cool form of Redistribution.

No response back from Pa yet about The Hole.

Proverbs 22:16
One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

The Hole

Found this hole (possibly for a mouse), behind my stove and emailed JD about it this morning. Not sure what they are going to tell me but hopefully it can be patched up somehow. For the time being I just drenched a rag with bug spray and shoved it into the hole.


Lets see how fast I get a response.


My Email:

Pa,

Found this hole that's behind the stove, was wondering what the procedure is to get it fixed.

Also, so stoked about the work going on here, especially the gated carports they are working on here. That's awesome. Totally going to raise the desirability of the complex.

Thanks Pa,

James

New Sprinkler System!

This was the stuff they were putting between the concrete and dirt.

Katie's cat, Bentley, enjoying the view!

This iron gate was added as protection for tenant's cars that are parked near the alley. Thankful for this because it makes the apartment complex much more desirable and safer to control pedestrians from just walking through the complex. Thanks JD!


Now just waiting for AT&t to fix this pole.

PEA PARTY: (Poor Enough Already)

I was standing in line at Chipotle when I got the call. It was a woman whose name was Pa Xiong and she told me I was a candidate for a job as property manager with JD Home Rentals. I remember feeling weird when she told me she worked for JD Homes, they have a very peculiar reputation. However, after eating a much enjoyed burrito, I told her I was interested.

This is a great opportunity. This was her email to me explaining my 'job description'.

James,

This is an open entry level position.  It will require you to live on site.  Your duties will be to show units to prospective tenants, report all illegal activities, clean the grounds, and participate with the Lowell Neighborhood Revitalization Project.  You will be compensated with an apartment and we may be able to give you a salary if you are willing to take on more responsibilities such as renting the property and preparing the contracts and collecting rent.

Hope to hear from you.

Pa 

Let me tell you a little bit about the complex.

Her name is Los Pinos and she rests at 103 N Fulton, Fresno California.

 

(Photo not current)

Los Pinos was built in the year of our Lord, 1981. The previous owner before JD was a man from Salinas, Ca. He employed a bulldog gang member as Landlord, who rented out the apartments to other bulldog gang members. From what I am told, the owner never questioned anything about it because he always got his rent on time.

Anyway, long story short, the Owner goes into foreclosure on his complex and JD Homes takes it up after.

I had my friend Andrew from Every Neighborhood Partnership come out to take a look around at the complex, and I think he saw the minimal effort of work that is being done on the rehabilitation of the complex. One example he told me was that the windows they are using aren't even really glass, but more or less a type of fiber glass. Cheaper than glass. But on the other hand, they are being accountable to the city. He noticed how they were putting a rubber latex between the lawn and the concrete because it was a newly appointed code.

I am a little disappointed, but not surprised. One of the rental agreement papers they had me sign was one that said I accept the apartment as it is and any damages and such are liable to me and not JD Homes. So... after looking at the 10 coats of paint on my walls, the cracks around the crown molding that cockroaches travel through and the bumpy tile floor- and I mean San Francisco bumpy- I can see how a desperate renter could fall victim to a sub-standard. Andrew said he would love to work on Los Pinos for JD, but when I asked Pa about it, she said that 'liability' was an issue and could not have him work on the property.




The complex currently has 6 tenants and 19 vacancies. 500 a month.

Jordan, Josh and Erik are most likely going to be moving into the complex in May/June. I am excited about that and excited about the community we could build together. I think they are too. So this blog will help me keep account of the events, progress and losses that are encountered at Los Pinos.

Anyways, I gotta call AT&T, a pole in the alley has a swinging pendulum that kids are using to thrash the surrounding area. Wish me luck.





From Fresno.gov :

• "...The City will consider funding for other projects throughout the year as they are submitted to the City. As projects are selected for funding recommendations, they will individually be taken through the citizen participation process as identified in the City’s Citizen Participation Plan... Los Pinos ‐ Predevelopment activities are underway to prepare for the acquisition and moderate rehabilitation of the existing Los Pinos Apartments complex. Moderate rehabilitation will be performed to the interior, exterior, and grounds of the complex. The Los Pinos Apartments complex is located at 103 Fulton Avenue in the Fulton/Lowell area northwest of downtown Fresno, Census Tract 6. The project cost is estimated at $14 million of which approximately $600,000 in HOME Program funds is proposed to help finance the acquisition and rehabilitation activities. An estimated $8 million in HUD Section 223(f) Program funds is expected to provide the primary funding stream for the project, with the balance of financing to come from other investments. The estimated completion date of the project is scheduled for May 2011. Once completed the project will consist of 24 (1‐bed/1‐bath) units of affordable housing...."

(Table/Text available at SOURCE on Page 11 for the HOME Investment Partnership for 2010-2011 Fiscal Year)

Isaiah 58:12

 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
   and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
   Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.