One of the things that makes Dana Estates Real Estate and the Dana Estates Neighborhood so special is the Dana Estates Neighborhood Alliance (DENA). DENA holds two meetings a year, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. The 2017 Fall Meeting was held on October 23, 2017 at the First Lutheran Church in Concord. The meeting was attended by neighbors and some of the Concord City Council attended as well. Here is a summary of the meeting.
DENA Neighborhood Meeting Notes
The meeting started with a few business items, including a welcome from DENA Chair, a thank you to all the volunteers that make DENA possible, a donation update, and information on the election of the DENA board. Check the DENA website for voting information in mid-November.
Next, there was a small update on Neighborhood Watch. It only takes about 10 neighbors to start a neighborhood watch. In general an organizer is needed and a place to meet. Contact the DENA neighborhood watch coordinator through the DENA website.
Concord Naval Weapons Station
An update on the Concord Naval Weapons Station reuse was shared. The Naval Weapons Station was part of a bid by the City of Concord and 4 other cities in the Bay Area to lure Amazon’s HQ2. Some interesting reports and information were shared about Concord.
Also in the update came a reminder that as the neighborhood immediately adjacent to the Naval Weapons Station, Dana Estates Residents need to consistently weigh in with the Concord City Council and Community Advisory Committee. The developer has proposed changes to the design, the phasing, and even the placement of some of the roads within the development. (The developer would like to connect Beechwood Drive to the development as a street with automobile traffic, not just a walking path.)
The next Community Advisory Committee Meeting is November 7th at 6:00pm. Stay tuned to the Concord City Council’s webpage for updates on when the CNWS will next be on the agenda.
Concord Connect App
The City of Concord has a great app for Apple and Google users to download on their smartphones. The Concord Connect App “allows you to connect directly with City of Concord staff in order to more effectively resolve issues in your community.”
Council members informed the meeting that it is a great way to report potholes on Concord Roads and for reporting nuisance items. Because the app is connected directly with the city, problems can get placed in a queue for resolution. While resolution isn’t immediate, submitting either online or through the app may speed the process.
Code Enforcement & Concord Police Update
Attendees at the meeting received an update from Concord Code Enforcement. Two main functions of code enforcement are dealing with 1) private property issues and 2) Neighborhood Watch.
The District Commander from the City of Concord shared some wonderful crime prevention suggestions:
- Make areas light outside of your home.
- Burglars are often coming in the daytime.
- Keep garage door openers in your purse and not in your car if parked outside overnight.
- Don’t leave valuables or anything that looks valuable (including kids’ backpacks) in the car.
- Don’t walk with your phone in your hand.
- Vacation checks for mail or newspaper may actually lead to theft.
- Police VIPS will do a vacation check
- Utilize Amazon Locker Service at local grocery store to prevent package theft during the holidays.
City of Concord’s 150th Anniversary
Next year is the City of Concord’s 150th Anniversary of its founding.
The Concord Historical Society is celebrating the upcoming 150th anniversary of Concord with a statue of Don Salvio Pacheco, Concord’s founder. The statue will be unveiled in Todo Santos Plaza on July 4th, 2018. There will be a brick patio surrounding it, and the Concord Historical Society is inviting you to become part of the city’s history by ordering a commemorative brick engraved with your name or sentiment. Check out their website for more info.
Peter is a real estate broker serving Central Contra Costa County. He and his family live in the Dana Estates Neighborhood.