City of Riverside Wants Troublesome Trees Gone

The Shamel ash trees on Brentwood Avenue and Maplewood Place tower over the homes and residents, creating a leafy tunnel of shade that residents want to preserve.

But some of the trees were topped improperly years ago, which allowed diseases in, stunting their growth in some cases and leading to large branches growing heavy and falling off.

The city wants to remove the troublesome trees and replace them with another kind, but homeowners are resisting.

They not only want the city to revive the ailing trees, they want better care for the healthy Shamel ash trees so they live as long as possible. Residents have banded together and hired the city’s urban forester from 1995 to 2005, David Roger, to aid their cause.

“We chose this neighborhood because of the trees,” said five-year resident Joe Deem.

“You’re glad to be home each night,” said 32-year resident Vern Goodwalt.

“With proper care, the weaker trees can be brought back and could last another 30-40 years — until they’re close to 100 years old”, Roger said.  “The city has a “clean and green” policy to be environmentally sensitive and should know that mature trees provide up to 60 times the environmental benefit — such as producing oxygen — of small trees”, he said.

“It takes 25 or 30 years for a 36-inch box tree to reach that level of benefit”, Roger said.

Shamel ash trees often grow to become problems, especially in parkways, where their roots push the sidewalks and driveways up.

“They’re just too big for that setting,” said Andrew Sanders, curator of the Herbarium at UC Riverside.

But on Brentwood and Maplewood, they are planted in large lawns that extend to the curb, where there aren’t any sidewalks. “This is an ideal setting for Shamel ash,” Roger said.

City officials said Shamel ash trees have been the source of claims filed by residents more often than any other kind of tree — for torn-up sidewalks and driveways, sewer pipes broken by the roots, and limbs that fall on houses and vehicles.

“They wreck everything,” Assistant City Manager Michael Beck said.

“Too many of them,” Mayor Ron Loveridge said. “Over time, they need to go.”

Councilman Mike Gardner, who represents the Wood Streets, is trying to craft a solution with the homeowners.

But if caring for the Shamel ash trees costs more than for other trees, it’s unfair to taxpayers who don’t have Shamel ash trees to make them subsidize the extra cost, he said.

Two options Gardner is exploring: deeding over the trees to the homeowners, who would take responsibility for them, or establishing an assessment district for the two streets to raise money for the additional cost of thorough care for the trees.

“The homeowners are open to discussing the assessment idea”, Goodwalt said.

ATM crime is increasing

Doug Johnson, a vice president and the senior adviser of risk management policy for the American Bankers Association, acknowledges that ATM skimming may be getting worse.

A skimmer is a device that reads and records all the account information stored electronically on the magnetic strip of an ATM card. Fraudsters have returned to ATMs in force as a favorite fishing hole for that prize catch: your debit card. With a little light mechanical tampering, thieves can “harvest” your account details and PIN number in seconds, then use them to either produce a “clone” card or to simply shop online until your account runs dry. With debit fraud, the thief actually drains the money directly from a checking account, leaving the victim to deal with bounced checks, missed payments and a downward-spiraling credit report while fighting with the bank to correct the wrong.

Litan predicts the ultimate solution to ATM/debit fraud may involve the chip-enabled “smart card,” which is more difficult to clone. The chip in a smart card is combined with the user’s PIN — a system known as “chip and PIN” — to verify transactions as nonfraudulent.

When Shopping for a New Home, Use a List.

Here is a checklist to use while reviewing homes to purchase.  But we always recommend you use a qualified inspector when you’re ready to write an offer.

Check For Properly Working Appliances/Fixtures:
Bathroom Sinks Showers/tubs Toilets Vent fan Heating fan Appliances Dishwasher Stove Oven Ice maker Garbage disposal Range hood Refrigerator Freezer Microwave Trash compactor	Kitchen Kitchen cabinet doors Drawers Sinks General Lights (interior & exterior) Windows Heating system Ceiling fans Hot water system Air conditioning system Electrical outlets Door bells Doors Water purifier Fireplace damper Garage door
Ensure House Is Well-Built and Systems Are In Working Condition:
Exterior Bricks bulging or cracking Shingles missing or broken Siding rotted or missing Gutters damaged or need to be cleaned Concrete cracked in sidewalks/driveway Basement Water seepage in basement Cracks in foundation Poor ventilation	Interior Sub-flooring damaged or loose Cracked walls or ceiling Cracked tiles Loose plaster Flooring damaged Soft, springy floors Water stains near windows Water stains on ceiling below bathroom in multi-level home Water stains in attic Pipe insulation missing

4333 Maplewood Pl

[ SOLD for $306,500] This is a rare, one-owner, meticulously-maintained “Wood Street” home built by famous Riverside builder, Harry Marsh! This one-of-a-kind home sits on one of the most desirable streets in Riverside, lined with an envious canopy of 50-yr-old ash trees. You’ll swear you’re in a quaint New England town! This sprawling ranch-style is almost 1800 sq ft, with a huge master suite with giant private bathroom and walk-in closet! Bright and spacious kitchen with corner sink and breakfast nook. Separate indoor laundry room comes with washer and dryer! Central air/heat, comp roof in excellent condition, detached 2-car garage with work bench and built-in cabinetry. Private and elegantly tiered backyard is completely enclosed with block walls, lush landscaping, a bird bath, a plethora of blooming rose bushes, and a separate walled-off section behind garage for pets or garden! Incredible home!!!

1275 Blazewood St

[No longer for sale]  ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!!! Gorgeous single story Canyon Crest turnkey executive home on huge private lot with tons of upgrades! Large open and bright floor plan with cathedral ceiling, large rooms, bright kitchen, newer dual paned windows/sliders, newer central air, newer roof, newer paint and carpet. Two of the three bathrooms have been renovated beautifully! This home is like something you’d see on HGTV! Four large bedrooms, including a master suite with adjoining private bathroom with romantic roman tub and double sinks! In addition to a formal living room, formal dining area, and family room with fireplace, you’ll appreciate the large sunroom!! Your jaw will drop with delight when you view the uniquely expansive back yard with large mature shade tree, fragrant honeysuckle and hypnotic song birds! This one-of-a-kind home will impress just about anyone. Unpack your golf clubs because it’s near the Canyon Crest Country Club!!

260 Fox Mills Ln

[ SOLD for $245,000 ]   REDUCED $100,000 DOLLARS!!!! This home is absolutely gorgeous! This 4-bedroom, 2.5 bath free-standing single family residence is located in a small, quiet, clean, safe, gated community conveniently located near shopping, banks, restaurants, movie theatres, etc. Home has been completely remodeled with granite counter tops in kitchen, stainless steel appliances, fresh interior/exterior paint, new remote-controlled ceiling fans, and all new bathroom fixtures and lights. Lovely backyard with block wall and patio, and side yard that could be dog run. Attached 2-car garage with auto roll-up door. Looks like a model home…you will not be disappointed!!! This is a promise!!!

     

4050 Adams St

[Gone into foreclosure ]  This masterpiece is beautiful enough to grace the pages of a Homes & Gardens Magazine! This historical Victorian Farmhouse with pool and spa sits on just over half an acre on park-like grounds. Was custom built by George Chaffey (Chaffey College) in 1878…and was completely renovated in 2003 at a cost of $200,000+! The original adobe home was completely restored with a new foundation and structural frame wtih earthquake retro-fit (all permitted), new electrical, new copper plumbing, new fixtures, new doors, new ceilings, new windows, new paint, new flooring (hardwood, tile, carpet), new roof, new appliances, new kitchen and bathrooms! Three bdrms plus an office attached to 2-car garage, 3 baths (the master needs some finishing touches), approximately 2500 sq ft, tankless water system, indoor laundry, master suite with his and hers walk-in closets, original “gilded era” stairs and handrail, double door entry, and impressive wrought iron gated entry with circular drive. Quiet, safe and gorgeous location great for weddings! The yard has recently been neglected, but the home itself is amazing!

This home is profiled in Chapter 5 of “Adobes, Bungalows and Manions of Riverside, California Revisited” by Esther H. Klotz and Joan H. Hall (2005 copyright edition).  The home originally sat on 20 acres surrounded by citrus and apricot trees and grape vines.

6707 Mount Whitney

5342 Magnolia Ave

[ SOLD for $405,000 ]  This vintage 1921 two-story Wood Streets home boasts almost 2200 sq ft, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living room, formal dining room with built-in hutch, sun room, hardwood floors, remodeled kitchen, indoor laundry room, laundry chute, sunny breakfast nook, and convenient downstairs guest bedroom/bathroom, with four spacious bedrooms and two more bathrooms upstairs! Large pool-size backyard with RV parking, alley access, large 2-car detached garage, on over a quarter acre! Walking distance to Riverside Community College and the new Riverside Plaza!