Cash Entices Rancho Cordova Homeowners To Take Down Fences
By Kelly Ryan
RANCHO CORDOVA (CBS13) – A group of high school and community volunteers were on a mission Saturday with their community in mind.
The focus of this beauty makeover? Getting rid of the chain-link fences that surround this home and many others in the Rancho Cordova area, put up in an earlier time.
"People not interacting as neighbors and stuff and maybe they thought that they had to protect their property and safety," said resident Conrade Mayer.
Mayer has lived in the community for 49 years. He brought a crew of Cordova High School students and graduates he mentors to dig, pull, pry and grind to uproot solid fencing.
"A lot of rock and concrete because the poles are encased and we have to help get it all out," a volunteer said.
The effort is great for the Marquez family, who've lived with their fence for 12 years.
"Having a chain link fence kind of lowers your property value," Marquez said.
It's called the chain-link fence buyback program. It was launched last January.
"We are addressing chain-link fences in our community that the current homeowners don't want and that send a bad message about a given neighborhood," said Rancho Cordova Mayor David Sander.
Homeowners also get up to $1,000 to spruce up their fence-free yards. That meant $900 for the Marquez family.
"We plan to do drought tolerant landscaping," Marquez said.
Thanks to a 1/2 cent sales tax measure passed by voters, the city can afford the program and beautify neighborhoods like this one.
But for Marquez daughters, it's not just the beauty they're excited about.
"I can ride my bike in and out. I don't have to go over the gates anymore."
Rancho Cordova has mapped out 600 chain-link fence locations and says anyone who thinks they may be eligible for the fence removal and cash incentive should contact the city.