Beautification/Civic Improvement
New
Entrance Sign
With
the installation of our new perimeter fence you will soon notice new
signs being installed at the main entrances on E. Jewell Ave. and
both entrances on S. Lima St. Soon to follow will be
replacement of the signs at other entrances within the
neighborhood. These signs help distinguish Peoria Park from
adjacent neighborhoods.
Perimeter Fence Project
The
perimeter fence was along the Peoria Park
perimeter of E. Jewell Ave and S. Lima Street was completed in
January.
The long term financing for the Peoria Park fence is complete.
With careful cost management on the part of the city, the
contractor, and the fence committee, the final cost of the fence was
$377,000, or $13,945 under budget! Over the 20 years of
financing a savings of $72,072 will be realized. The cost of
the fence will be paid by homeowners in Peoria Park. The tax
will be on your property tax bill beginning in 2011. The
amount will vary based on your property assessment. The
average is $160 per year. Since this is a tax, it is tax
deductible.
How Proud Are You Of Your Trash?
Does it hang out on display in your front yard or on the
curb? Is it comfortable by your garage or does it lurk
by the side of your house?
The protective covenants of Peoria Park state that trash cans or
storage piles must be fenced, walled in or concealed from the view
of other residential lots and streets. Plans for enclosures on
the side of homes must be approved by the Architectural Control
Committee. Trash cans may be stored inside a back yard fence. City
of Aurora ordinance's state that trash containers may not be placed
in the front yard before 5:00 p.m. on the day before trash pickup
and must be removed within 12 hours after pickup. You are ask
to place your trash containers at the end of your driveway or
another area that does not block city sidewalks. It is
prohibited to block public access to sidewalks with any object.
Remember we all want a community that is clean. We also want
our house values to rise. Make sure your trash is stored out
of sight. Be considerate of walkers and small children, they
are your neighbors!
Fence on the line, whose is it?
There are many fences around the neighborhood that are
beginning to lean and sway in the wind causing residents to question
ownership of the fence. According to the Peoria Park
Covenants, fences must be maintained, repaired and replaced when
necessary by the homeowner(s). If a fence or portion thereof
is located on the common line separating two or more adjoining lots
then the owners of such lots should share responsibility for
repairing or replacing the fence. The is no law or rule about
which side of the fence should face in or out in community back
yards. If only one owner pays for the fence then the choice of
sides is his. If more than one owner pays then you can flip a
coin or draw straws. The smooth side of the fence should
always face the street.
Fences and walls must be in compliance with the architectural
guidelines of the Architectural Control
Committee. Prior written approval must be obtained by
submitting the Home
Improvement Request Form. The Committee will consider the
height, location and materials proposed for construction.
Acceptable material is 1" x 4" x 6' Cedar
Pickets.
Pretty Flowers Hide Encroaching Weeds - Clover
and Bindweed
Several home in Peoria Park
have been spotted with perennial weeds that are often mistaken
as a flowers.
WHITE
CLOVER is a perennial weed. Its sweet aroma and cute flowers has
earned it some fans, but for the most part, people do not want the
clover taking over their lawns, purely for aesthetic reasons. In the
40s and 50s clover was common in lawn mixes especially in farm areas
and country towns. As a result, it's one of the most common weeds
around. It attracts bees, which can be an underfoot danger, and is
also quite slippery when wet, another danger. Plus, it's just out of
place texture-wise. Clover has a taproot you can easily dig out by
hand. For spot control a little spade action is hard to beat.
BIND
WEED also known as wild Morning Glory or Creeping Jenny can kill your
vegetables, lawn, and flowers. It grows as a vine with small white
flowers along the ground and up your plants to strangle them. The
roots of bindweed can be as long as 40 feet. Each time the roots are
broken by pulling or digging, a new plant begins. This is the most
difficult weed to kill and usually takes years to eliminate. The
seeds of this weed can live in the soil for many years. This
weed needs to eliminated when first spotted to prevent problems later.
Neighbors
who work hard to prevent weeds in their yards would appreciate help by
eliminating these nuisance weeds and not allowing them to go to seed
which then blows into their yards. You need a plant killer like
Roundup that will kill the plant down to the roots, but do protect
plants you want to keep.
What
Location is Best for Satellite Dishes?
While
dish type antennas are permitted, Peoria Park's covenants ask that
homeowners not place the antennas on the front of their house where it
becomes a detraction from the appeal of the home and creates an
eyesore for the community. Instead, check out possible
spots on the side of your house or even the back of your house.
Installation
contractors are typically paid a “flat rate” to install systems.
In many cases unless instructed by the owner they cut their
installation cost by installing the dish closest to the point of end
use, usually on the front of the house. This is not a
preferred location. As the owner you should ask for another
working location. The side or the back of house will usually work.
There should be no additional cost for placing the dish in
another working location.
Remember
the Architectural Control Committee
should approve any changes or improvement to the outside of your
property which includes adding a satellite dish. The committee
might be able to suggest a more appropriate spot than the front of
your house.
House
Appeal increases the value of your home and the surrounding community!
