Red Car Property: Toilets, Bumper, Aquarium

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 15, 2017.  Neighbor reports the toilets, bumper and aquarium arrived on Lot C of the Red Car Property at India Street, as soon as the previous pile of dumping was picked up earlier this month.  They are still there now.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 15, 2017.  Perhaps the dumping would be curtailed,  if the Red Car Property was closed to all motorized vehicles, except emergency vehicles, with steel gates similar to those on every fire road in Griffith and Elysian Park.

Corralitas Drive: ALERT, Large Coyote Pack

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, June 11, 2017.  Coyote pup on Red Car Property, still photo taken from video.

A Corralitas Drive neighbor, from the middle of the hill, wrote in an email today, "last night at 11pm, I saw a pack of 5-6 coyotes casually sauntering up Corralitas in the middle of the road, as if they were clocking in for the night shift."

It's more typical we see packs of 3 coyotes in the Red Car Neighborhood.  This is the first sighting of such a large pack on the street.  It is likely a family group with the juveniles learning to hunt with the adults.

Los Angeles Animal Services recommends "hazing' coyotes. If you encounter coyotes,  throw small rocks, shout, wave your arms, make yourself larger.  Be sure to keep your dog on leash and do not let your dogs chase coyotes.  

With a pack that large it is easy for them to lie in wait around cars to take unsuspecting pets as prey. Yes, I've stopped a couple of those attacks using the aforementioned techniques. You know the neighbors who walk their dogs regularly in the neighborhood, by the fact we've all said, "I saw two coyotes and I looked around and said to myself, OK, where's the third one?"

If you feed your pets outside, pick up the food bowls as soon as they are finished.  Do not leave even empty trash and recycle bins open.  If the bins are cracked or broken, get them replaced for free by calling 311 or online via MyLA 311.

Living with urban coyotes: LA Animal Services 

Record your coyote sightings: LA Nature Map on iNaturalist 

Click here for all our coyote posts.
 

Corralitas Drive: Wildlife!

Photo: Corralitas Neighbor, September 24, 2017.  A neighbor placed empty and rinsed recyclables on the stairs to take to the bin.  Five minutes later, a young raccoon was already looking for snacks.  There's a reason we endlessly preach about keeping recycle and trash bins closed tightly.  Urban wildlife is opportunistic.

Red Car Property: Coyote Encounter - It's The One You Don't Get On Video...

2 coyotes from Adelbert to Red Car Property 6AM #NatureinLA #LAFD still needs brush clearance @MitchOFarrell pic.twitter.com/RxOFTgAvWI

— Corralitas (@RedCarProperty) July 15, 2016

Last Friday, Gary Vlahakis was out for an early morning run on the Red Car Property when he saw a coyote come down through the dry brush from Adelbert. He managed to get two coyotes on video ahead of him on the trail.  You see his dog, who is deaf, stay obediently stay by his side.  But the story of the video he DID NOT get is even more amazing...

The first thing I said was where's the third coyote?  Vlahakis responded, 

"As we were approaching the little trail that goes up to Adelbert I saw what I thought was a little doggie at the bottom....barking and barking!!!  When we got within 30’ or so I realized it was a coyote, but it just stayed there and kept barking so i started taking a video (I thought). About 30 seconds later I thought something was odd so I turned around and a bigger coyote was sneaking up behind us. And I’m thinking 'this will be an incredible video!'  The coyote was coming right at us when turned but angled off and circled around us to meet the other and they went up the little trail. It never was more than 15’ away as it went by."  

The video didn't record.  Of course anyone who's ever tried to capture a wildlife encounter on the fly, on your phone, has had a similar mishap with recording video.  I know I have. You just shoot and hope for the best.  I've learned to stick to stills and multiple images because I can rarely make the video work in such situations.

Keep your dogs on leash, keep your cats indoors, don't leave food debris outside.  Keep your trash and recycle bins closed at all times.  Get your brush clearance done.  Don't give coyotes a place to hide in your yard.  If there are neighboring lots that haven't been cleared of brush (like the Red Car Property) report them to LAFDBrush@lacity.org You can look up more info on brush clearance: http://www.lafd.org/fire-prevention/brush

Citywide: Small Lot Subdivision Ordinance Update, Public Hearing Tonight

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 6, 2014.  That's the controversial 15-home small lot subdivision in the Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract, not an office park in Orange County.  It was built on green field, not in-fill.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The City is updating the Small Lot Subdivision Ordinance and design standards for new small lot subdivisions over 20 units.  They're also attempting to incentivize conversion of existing bungalow courts into for sale homes (which is a good thing), rather than tearing them down to build a huge dense development that's out of character with the surrounding neighborhood.

Unfortunately, there's nothing specific to Hillside areas, nor restrictions on green field development.  There is, however, a badly needed requirement for shared trash bins.  The access roads and shared driveways do not appear wide enough for Hillside fire requirements of 20' and should be reconsidered. 

There's also a few references to specific sections of the LA Municipal Code without outlining what they govern.  So we've yet to review all the changes proposed in the ordinance.  As always, the devil is in the details.  Go to the open house and ask questions!

Small Lot Subdivision Ordinance Update 

TONIGHT, January 26, 2016 

Open House: 5:30 - 7 PM

Public Hearing: 7 PM

Grace Simons Lodge

1025 Elysian Park Drive

Elysian Park, 90012

Case #s:
CPC-2015-4499-CA
ENV-2015-4500-CE
Comments in writing will be accepted until February 26, 2016.  See the City Planning website for a host of information.

Red Car Property: That's No Turkey

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 22, 2015. An enormous Red Tailed Hawk was one of a pair hunting on the north end of the Red Car Property.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

I heard a very loud crashing of branches and looked up to see a huge Red Tail trying to balance in a Eucalyptus off Adelbert.  Usually, adult Red Tails are not that clumsy.  I suspect it was chasing a squirrel and missed, or the squirrel jumped to escape and went tumbling down to the ground.  

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 22, 2015.  It took a moment for the  Red Tail to regain its composure, it was panting, as I've seen them do after making a kill.  It must be the adrenaline of the hunt.   It sat in the tree watching something on the ground below for a few minutes before taking off, circling low around the north end of the property a few times, looking for alternate prey.  Considering neither AM/PM nor Rick's keep their trash bins covered, there should be an ample supply of rats on this end of the property too.

The first hawk quickly gained altitude, soaring in larger circles in the high winds and landed near the top of the DWP power line tower across Fletcher behind Home Restaurant.

The second hawk had been calling to the first throughout this encounter. I don't know if the second hawk was its mate or one of this year's babies.  Red Tails will hang around with their parents for the better part of a year while they learn to hunt. 

Riverside & Fletcher: Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Thinking About Cleaning Up

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 2004.  The City of LA Cultural Historic Landmark Pacific Electric Viaduct Footings haven't looked this good in years.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The Silver Lake Neighborhood Council (SLNC) is discussing how outreach to the community to clean up Riverside & Fletcher.  Rapid gentrification can't be far behind. 

The fact that it's a major commuter corridor doesn't help matters. As part of their effort to keep the district's neighborhoods safe & clean, City Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell's staff (CD13) along with the LA Conservation Corps has cleaned up the Riverside Drive sidewalks between Fletcher & Gilroy and Fletcher into Atwater fairly regularly for the past year.   

Cleaning pastel paint off the vandalized viaduct footings will likely not be on the agenda at tonight's meeting.  The viaduct footings are on private property.  It's not a park, it just looks like one. 

SLNC Joint Community Liaison & Outreach Committees

click here for agenda

Monday January 5, 2015

7-9 PM

Neutra Institute Museum & Gallery

2379 Glendale Blvd, LA 90039

Lot C: Film Shoot Blocked Access To Red Car Property At India Yesterday

Photo: Red Car Property Neighbor, November 13, 2014.  A film crew who had earlier taken over the cul-de-sac at the Corralitas end of the Red Car Property (I witnessed that), later took over the India Street entrance to the property.  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

I received emails from several neighbors, including the following from a neighbor: 

"Came through the gate about an hour ago. Bunch of twenty-somethings (that didn't want to talk to me) were letting more of their group in and asking/telling neighbors that they couldn't park on the Red Car."

Another neighbor said LAPD showed up & the crew left shortly thereafter.  For once, the lawlessness of the Red Car Property did not prevail. 

Red Car Property: Schools & Hillside Streets, Special Events, Parking, Noise, Canyon Effects

Photo: Red Car Property Neighbor, October 31, 2014. Allesandro Elementary School parents filled the school parking lots, Riverside Drive, India & the Red Car Property Friday for some special event. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 31, 2014.  Apparently the special event at Allesandro Elementary School involved mobile dental trucks, funnel cakes & sugary drinks on Halloween.  Go figure. 

Neighbors on the school side of  Corralitas Drive  also complained of very loud music coming from the elementary school's playground (which happens on more than just special events.)  Their PA system is also extraordinarily loud.  You have to wonder if the administrators have hearing loss after working next to the 5 Freeway for so many years.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 1, 2014.  Cars were parked from Rose Scharlin Nursery School to at least the Silver Lake Ave Public Staircase for their annual fundraiser,  Halloween Hullabaloo, Saturday evening. 

A neighbor who's child went to Rose Scharlin many years ago, told me they had to hold their fundraisers off-site due to neighborhood concerns & parking.  But then, they also had a lot more neighbors who walked their kids to school then.

Several neighbors on Corralitas Drive asked me about the loud music coming from the Rose Scharlin party.  Perhaps parents, teachers & administrators just play the music really loud to drown out the screaming children.  The canyon effect in hillside neighborhoods amplifies the sound depending on where you live.  Some neighbors get more noise than those who may live closer to the source because sound bounces around the hills.

Both schools need to be better neighbors.

Red Car Propery: Sunset Over "Lot C"

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, October 30, 2014.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Red Car Property: Some Dumping Never Seems To Leave *Updated

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 21, 2014.  A TV has been lurking behind the trashcans at the India St entrance to the Red Car Property since at least April.  (Click on photos to enlarge.) 

Other dumping has come and gone, but the TV remains. Technically, this is part of the Red Car Property, "Lot C."  Yet the City trash trucks drive up onto the property to pick the trash here, in addition to using it as a turn around, as India St is so substandard.  So the City should pick up the dumping at India St too. *7-23-14 UPDATE: Yesterday, a neighbor called in the pile adjacent to the India Street trashcans, including the TV.  Today the City picked up the bookshelf, basket & other debris, but not the TV.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 21, 2014.  That office chair has been making the rounds on "Lot C" for the past few months too. All of the other debris has been there for years. 

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 21, 2014.  The baby carriage has been working its way around the north end of the property for a while too.  It's currently stopped on a California Black Walnut sapling behind the Arco Station.

The City won't pick up dumping on private property.  It's the property owner's responsibility.  But if you witness someone dumping on the Red Car Property or anywhere else, get a vehicle/person description, license plate, photo if you can, and call 1-877-ASK-LAPD and make a report immediately.  

Red Car Property: Someone Tidied The Piles Of Dumping

 Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 16, 2014.  About a week ago, someone pushed all the random dumping (refrigerator parts, car seats, random trash)  from behind one Riverside Place neighbor's house to another's.  It's still there.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 18, 2014.  Similarly, some of the dumping that was spilling down the hillside from a house on Adelbert was piled up on the the Red Car Property, a few days ago. 

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 27, 2014.  That TV, along with new dumping is still behind the trashcans at India St.

If you see someone dumping on the Red Car Property, or anywhere else, get a description of the vehicle, license plate and/or person(s) & call 1-877-ASK-LAPD immediately.

Lot C: Feral TVs of The Red Car Property

Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 11, 2014.  People must be getting new TVs in time for the World Cup.  They've set their old TVs free to fend for themselves on the Red Car Property. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 27, 2014.  According to a neighbor (who reported the TV & the other dumping to the City's  311 service) this one has been hiding behind the trashcans at India Street on Lot C for more almost 2 months now.

And really, if you're going to drive here to dump a TV drive a couple of exits north on the 5 Freeway to Colorado Blvd & drop it off at the LA Dept of Sanitation S.A.F.E. toxic & e-waste collection site, open Saturdays & Sundays 9AM - 3PM.  They even take it out of your car or truck for you. 

The City will not pick up TVs if you call them in for bulky item pick up.

Get the MyLA311 app for your smartphone.

Red Car Property: Daylight Coyote Alert

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, February 26, 2014, 7:10 AM.  A curious coyote followed Vlahakis & his dog on a morning walk on the Red Car Property.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Recognizing the house the coyote was hanging outside of in this photo, I sent it along to the homeowner.  The family happened to be watching the coyote safely inside their home south of the Silver Lake Ave Public Staircase.  

Do not let your kids, dogs or cats in the yard if there are coyotes hanging around.

The coyote seemed to be making the rounds of more recent construction sites off the Red Car Property (according to a video shot by Vlahakis).  If a home near you is being flipped, remodeled or constructed, talk to the homeowner & contractors about keeping trash under control.  I've seen more discarded fast food bags & trash at construction sites, in amongst the construction trash, that definitely attracts rats, skunks, raccoons & coyotes.  Construction sites are required by City code to keep their trash in covered bins and not let it pile up, but the code doesn't get enforced. 

And while you're at it, keep your & your neighbors' trash cans closed too.  Learn more: LA City Animal Services.   

Click here for all our coyote posts.

Red Car Property: Dead Trees & Car Bumpers

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 19, 2013.  The trees are sporting new fall colors: dead.  LAFD red tagged the lot for brush clearance (dead trees) weeks ago.  The owner has ignored the notice.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The City trash trucks drive onto the Red Car Property at India Street to pick up the trash & turn around.  Yet, they cant seem to pick up the pile of car bumpers even when they've been submitted (with a photo) on the City's 311 website, 13 days ago.

Don't dump your crap here.  For a bulky item pick-up, call 311, download the City's My 311 App or request a bulky item pick-up on the City's website.  Don't trash our neighborhood, or anyone else's for that matter!

*UPDATE: Car bumpers were picked up by 9-27-13.

Red Car Property: Bench

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 10, 2013.  Logs serve as benches on the Red Car Property - which is not a park, it just looks like one.  Unfortunately, the kids who drink beer & smoke pot there, don't clean up after themselves, nor can they resist marking their territory with graffiti.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Take your trash with you when you leave.  There are plenty of trashcans all over the neighborhood for you to use.

Much ado about expensive new park benches at Silver Lake Reservoir and the sad shape of benches at Silver Lake's (less well off) Bellevue Park: The Eastsider

Corralitas Drive: Coyote Alert!

Photo: Diane Edwardson, August 5, 2013, 9:11 AM.  That's a coyote ear.  (Click on photos to enlarge.) 

My dog has been going nuts in the morning, giving his guard dog bark at some intruder down below our yard.  This morning it sounded like something large was down in the lower part of the yard. 

Sure enough, just after 9 AM as we walked up Corralitas, we encountered a big healthy male coyote on the 2 Freeway side of the fence on Corralitas.  He came under the fence, darted around the corner & ducked down the first driveway.  He was hoping we'd pass by. By then I had my camera out.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, August 5, 9:12 AM.  Trying to shoot photos and control an on-leash 60-lb dog, while running late, is no easy feat.  So this is the best shot I could get.

The coyote took back off down around the corner. 

A Corralitas neighbor said he had a young confused male coyote in his yard, on the other end of the street this morning too.

Keep your small animals inside.  Do not leave any food outside.  If you feed your pets outside, pick up the bowls as soon as they are through eating.  KEEP YOUR TRASHCANS CLOSED.  Call the City or use the City's new 311 app & get the trashcan repaired if it is damaged or broken.  The smell of food attracts coyotes, rats, raccoons, skunks & opossums. 

You can hear the coyotes howling nightly over in the Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract (the other side of the 2 Freeway).

Click here for all our coyote posts.

Corralitas Drive: "When I Sit On The Planning Commission..."

Photo: Diane Edwardson, January 24, 2013.  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

When I sit on the Planning Commission, no discretionary action will be approved without undergrounding utility lines & providing ample space designed to contain trashcans off the street and out of the driveway (among many other mitigations).  But that's just another reason why I'll never be named to the Planning Commission.  

NOTE: The log cabins were built prior to the Hillside Ordinance, the advent of curbside recycling and the giant 3 trash bins per dwelling unit.  I just get pissed off when power lines and trashcans ruin a lovely photograph.

Red Car Canyon: Lost Kitty From Riverside Place

Photo: Diane Edwardson, January 23, 2013.  Hitch's owner made sure you couldn't miss the flyers in the canyon area.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Coyote Alert:  A neighbor from Riverside Terrace told me of his recent coyote encounter in Red Car Canyon.  He was walking his two big dogs on leash around 9PM when 3 coyotes started circling and stalking him, attempting to lure the "smaller" of the two dogs away. 

This is not the first time he's run into the 3 coyotes after dark.  There always seem to be 3 and they definitely work in a pack.  He yelled at them and threw rocks to try to chase them off.  He was surprised at how bold they are. 

Neighbors have seen coyotes day and night in the neighborhood.  If you feed your pets outdoors, pic up the food bowls immediately after they eat.  Do not leave trash & recycle bins open (even when empty - the smell attracts rats, raccoons & coyotes).  If your trash bins are damaged or broken call 311 and get them replaced. 

Red Car Property: Some Lots Posted For Brush Clearance

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 17, 2012.  The City gave notice on July 16 for brush clearance on the 3 lots north of, but not including the really bad problem lot that many neighbors have been expressing concern about for almost 8 months.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The problem is the City Department of Lot Cleaning has jurisdiction over vacant Hillside lots in the Northeast, not the Fire Dept., unlike Los Feliz or the Hollywood Hills where the LAFD has jurisdiction over the vacant lots. 

Enforcement of brush clearance standards are unfair in Silver Lake, Echo Park, Glassell Park, Mt Washington, El Sereno, Hermon, Monterey Heights, etc, where the homeowners have to (justifiably) clear their brush to LAFD standards, but the City only enforces brush clearance on vacant lot owners if the neighbors bitch constantly about it. 

Click here for all our brush clearance posts.