Claire Skipper

the concrete block city way station that sits prominently in the waterfront view at this intersection has always been an eyesore. It now is intolerable due to the ugly chain link fence surrounding it that has EMERGENCY ORANGE paint? on it leading the eye to the bright blue PORTALET facing the traffic that uses Blossom Way, Serpentine Circle and Serpentine Drive and is surrounded by 1,2,3, or 4 city trucks parked there for long periods of time with personnel inside doing whatever. It is a blight on the neighborhood and the waterfront view that we wish you would relocate. A canopy of vines totally covering the fence or huge solid and tall hedges/ shrubs hiding the ugly installation and blending in with the wooded area as well as the elimination of the group meetings would help if nothing else will be considered. Empty lots adjacent to the station are not saleable cause who wants to live next door to that?

You responded to this issue several months ago, but as stated then, this is an ongoing issue. This unpaved street is supposed to be maintained by the city but is not except under duress. When the Pink Streets were repaved many years ago, a petition to leave this street unpaved was approved if residents bore the cost of the loss of matching federal? funding. We did; and the city agreed to maintain the street, which it originally did by laying gravel as needed. That fell through the cracks long ago and subsequent responses wrenched from officials have been stop-gap, short-term, grudging and ineffective. The Pink Streets provide high residential tax support and in return are due services without constant begging to officials. A city employee defended the maintenance as "alley" care. This is not an alley; it is the last block of the main thoroughfare in the Pink Streets, Serpentine Drive, comparable to Snell Isle Blvd. in Snell Isle. The mosquitoes breeding, the automobile damages, the liability for potential injuries suffered by the many dog walkers, joggers, bike riders, babies in strollers and retirees using this street through ancient trees are reasons enough to solve this problem. This chronic muddy potholed street reflects negatively on fine homes and potentially impacts government by dropping home values and reducing tax revenue, another reason to address the problem. It is just the right thing for the city to eliminate finally this long-term issue.

This street is unpaved and constantly has potholes damaging cars, hazardous for walkers, bikers and joggers who could sue the city if one falls and is injured, aesthetically diminishes this high tax area neighborhood and the mosquitoes are having pool parties. It is not an alley and should not be treated as one by the city. Please respond and repair this multi year problem.