Time for annual clean-up
With the coming of spring, it is time for our annual reminder for home and business owners to do a bit of seasonal cleaning and sprucing up of their properties. The spate of warmer weather we are having should give us all the incentive to make our surroundings – both at home and in the many businesses in the city – more attractive, and clean.
Cleaning our sidewalks, curbs, and areas in front of our properties is not the job of the city. It is the task of every one of us. Too often, those who do not reside in the city – and that includes property and business owners – believe it is not their responsibility. Wrong! Part of owning a business or a property is keeping the surrounding areas attractive.
Those same absentee landlords, who own rental properties in town, are not stringent enough in keeping their lots attractive, well-kept up, or just presentable. The number of complaints we get in this office, both in the Gripe Vine column of Eleanore Turkington, and to the editorial desk, have to do with owners allowing their property to become blighted: failing to mow lawns, remove debris, have several cars in various states of disassembly, and the like.
One of the biggest gripes in the city is the number of residents who insist on parking vehicles on front lawns. Most places offer off-street parking, and those that do not have ample street locations. Still, there is a growing tendency among some residents to casually park their automobiles on the front lawn. This harms the look of the neighborhood, brings property values down and gives the city a black eye.
Further, owning property or a business means the facades and buildings should be well kept, painted when necessary, and repaired where needed. Businesses, too, must be cognizant that sweeping sidewalks and keeping areas attractive help draw customers.
With the coming of spring, let us all put in the effort to get rid of the excesses that have built up over the winter, and spruce up our neighborhoods and businesses.
Library plan needs push
In our last issue, we reported on the progress of getting a branch library back into the Borough of Allingtown. The Louis Piantino Library, which for more than 40 years was located at the former Forest School Building, was forced to move when the property was sold to developer David Beckerman. That was three years ago.
Since then, the issue has been on the back burners of some city officials, while the Village Improvement Association, the committee that operates the city’s library system, has been trying to purchase a new location. In fact, a Post Road site was purchased, and an adjoining lot is in the process of foreclosure and is expected to be ceded to the group.
The most promising outcome brought out in the story was a joint venture between the City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown and the VIA. The department is looking for a new headquarters, and a collaboration between the two entities is one that is being explored.
Since the closure of the Piantino Library, other possibilities have been floated regarding a new location, but the best possible scenario might be the collaborative effort. Either way it is time for the project to go forward.
Allingtown is experiencing a resurgence. Adding the library construction would continue that resurgence. We urge city officials to work with the VIA and the FDWH-Allingtown commission in making this effort a success.