Although I am sure that my obsession with unloved palm trees would be considered a silly complaint by most people, I do have another pet peeve that may strike a note with others, and it is an issue that has irked me for more than 10 years.
There are two houses located on Hill Street, between Temple and Obispo avenues in Long Beach, that have been blights to that neighborhood for years. Besides being eyesores, over time, the houses have been not only set on fire, but looted and inhabited by homeless people as well. Furthermore, although the homes are located in Long Beach, the right-of-way, in front of the structures— including the sidewalk and street— are actually in Signal Hill. Oh, by the way, the homes have never been sold to private parties and have sat empty since they were built in the mid 1990s.
The whole thing has become such a ridiculous comedy of errors that I thought the matter would never be put to rest.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Screen-Shot-2015-09-25-at-12.24.59-PM.png” credit=”Neena Strichart/Signal Tribune” align=”right” lightbox=”on” caption=”Sign declaring 48 hours to demolition” captionposition=”right”] According to recent discussions with those in the know, including several local elected officials, it is my understanding that the demolition of the homes in question will begin today. When I first heard the news, I hightailed it over to the location and took great joy in snapping a picture of the homes and of the posted notice that declared that demolition of the two structures would begin in 48 hours.
My elation comes not only from the removal of local blight, but from the hope that the Signal Tribune may finally be finished with reporting on the matter— except next week, when we will run photos and a full story on the final process of the homes that have brought so much controversy to Long Beach and Signal Hill.
If this all takes place, I will no longer have to listen to folks blaming Signal Hill for the real-estate fiasco on Hill Street, and I will begin to once more drive down what we Signal Hillians refer to as Shell Hill, without being annoyed by the view.
