Riverside alleys

[lindab]

Geez, I did not want to scare anyone away from getting a house in the area. The alleys are never blocked by cars but because I have so many renters for neighbors, the conditions are not nice for walking. Look around a little more before you make a final decision. You might be just the neighbor we need to turn things around.

[RiversideGator]

As someone who owns several rental properties and who lived in Riverside for over 7 years, I feel qualified to add to this discussion.   

The trash problems in the alleys are caused by a number of factors.  First, some tenants cant seem to understand that trash is to be placed in bags and these bags are then to be placed into trash cans.  Second, some landlords do not provide adequate trash cans/receptacles for their tenants thereby helping to cause the mess.  Third, you have a number of bums who cruise the alleys and sometimes tear into bags to get at the cans (which they can sell), other pieces of "treasure", or even old food (disgusting but true).  And finally, animal activity (cats, rats, raccoons, possums, etc) creates a lot of problems as the little critters rip open the bags to get at the food.  Anyway, keeping the alleys clean is a constant battle and I think as the area continues to gentrify this problem will be reduced.

BTW, the alleys are a great thing IMO since it allows access to homes from the rear and allows for trash to be picked up in the rear of the houses.