Chatsworth's Overgrown Curbs Get a Shave and a Trim

Many Chatsworth property owners, particularly those along main streets,  are getting help to get rid of weeds and overgrown trees.

A landscape contractor hired by the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council, is well into a two-week program that will beautify the community by cutting and trimming plants and trees in 10 separate areas.

The council, rather than return unspent fund to the city, used its remaining budget, between $6,000 and $8,000 to make Chatsworth a tidier area.

"It was a quick way to get a good result for the community and a very visible result," said Jeff Hammond, a council member in charge of the clean-up project.

Among the areas being spruced up by Oak Springs, the contractor hired for the job, is Devonshire, between Mason and Corbin, and Mason, between Germain and the 118 freeway. Other streets with improved appearances are DeSoto and Lassen.

"It was basically weeds and overgrown trees," Hammond said. "We're picking up litter but mostly it's all the trees and the overgrowth, including from winter's heavy rains."

Technically, the property owner is responsible for cutting back weeds and other plants and trees. "Some people do very good jobs," Hammond said. "Some people do it to a lesser degree." In some cases, he added, property owners have failed to maintain their land for years.

Although the council's effort will beautify areas that have received too little attention, it might also send a message that irresponsible property owners will be let off the hook when it comes to maintenance.

"There is some risk of that," conceded Hammond. "But this won't be an ongoing thing at this particular point. This was just an opportunity of circumstance when funds were available. This became a simple, direct way to do something for the community."

Los Angeles' budget shortfall is making it harder for the city to afford to inspect and cut back on overgrown areas. Using money budgeted for council projects will serve to remind some property owners of their obligations, Hammond said. "This could be considered a jumping off platform to make the community more aware of what it needs to be doing."

He said the council got a particularly favorable bid by letting the contractor schedule the neighborhood cleanup work around other jobs it had been hired to perform.

Hammond added that all of the clean-up sites are on property along Chatsworth's busiest streets and not in less-traveled residential sections.

"It doesn't benefit us to clean small residential streets when it's the homeowners responsibility," said Hammond. "But the main thoroughfares were really ragged and weed-worn and they needed the attention to give the communiy its basic uplift."