ANA & OBRAS PUBLICAS TALK TRASH

by amapaspv | May 6, 2014 | Uncategorized

For several years, the Big Yellow Dumpster near the highway instersection served as a distinctive and unattractive landmark – a trash collection point for the neighbors, but also for ‘drive-by dumpers’ who would pull off the highway and add to the pile of trash already spilling out onto the ground.  Since the recent removal of the dumpster, trash has continued to accumulate.

ANA representatives working with the City and neighbors have proposed a three-point plan to reduce the Los Pinos trash problem:

1. Relocate the Big Yellow Dumpster next to its sister, the Conchas Chinas dumpster, located at a wider spot farther down the highway;
2. Request more frequent City trash pick-ups at Los Pinos, and
3. Construct a secure trash containment structure at the intersection to keep trash out of sight and safe from trash-pickers who go through the plastic bags at all hours, often leaving spilled trash on the street.

ANA Streets Consultant, Ruben Carillo, has produced a simple and clean-lined design for the trash container, the ANA Board has allocated funds to pay for materials and supervision of the project, and Obras Publicas has agreed to provide City labor, help with permits, etc.  So far, so good.

However, concerned about obstructing traffic, O.P. has balked at putting the structure on City pavement.  And residents of the condominium on the corner, concerned that a new trash containment structure might make the problem worse, not better, are reluctant to grant permission to build it on a corner of their property.

Everybody involved has taken a step back to consider the options, and how best to solve the Los Pinos trash problem.  We’ll report when there’s new news.

ANA & PARTNERS COMPLETE GARDENIAS PAVING PROJECT!

by amapaspv | May 6, 2014 | Uncategorized

A first-ever partnership between the ANA, local residents and a local Developer has resulted in the paving of a 200 square meter section of Calle Gardenia.

On the way to Las Moradas, a curving section of Calle Gardenias near Selvamar’s upper entrance has remained unpaved for years, creating a quagmire during the summer rains, and a mini-dustbowl the rest of the year.  Local residents had long considered doing the paving themselves, but the cost was prohibitive.

But now, thanks to a groundbreaking partnership brokered by ANA Streets Chair Sharon Dunn, the 200 square meter section has been leveled and paved with new cobblestones…and the mud and dust are gone.

With long-distance assistance from Chuck Toops, the ANA was able to partner with La Roca – a local developer running underground utilities in the area – and Full Building Members Las Moradas and Selvamar, plus individual members Nick Lewis and Mario Rodriguez to finance the project.

La Roca put up a third of the costs, with the ANA and the affected neighbors splitting the remainder equally.  The work itself was performed by Victor Manuel Rodriguez Sanchez’s company, V&V Construction.

This project could serve as a model for future improvements in Amapas: the ANA providing organization and ‘seed money’, with individual members and member buildings contributing the rest, on a project by project basis.