Yes, we are talking about historic Land Park. Sounds idyllic, right?

Not so fast... there is a hairy beast lurking behind closed doors, eating away at residents and small family-owned businesses. This “monster” masquerades as interested and concerned Land Park residents, but is really a beast known as… gasp… the Land Park Community Association.

Sacramento has more than 160 neighborhood associations. Some associations work very well with neighbors, residents and businesses, such as the Sierra-Curtis Association and Pocket Area association. Then there are the others, run by anti-democratic, coercive, devious individuals who operate clandestinely, without transparency, such as the notorious and loathed LPCA.

The LPCA is currently a board bitterly divided, with the majority recently voting down a “transparency” resolution. Last Spring, four board members resigned in disgust and frustration. One more board member resigned this past fall amidst unspeakable treatment by several fellow board members. The LPCA Board has historically ignored it’s own Bylaws, operating without accountability, and often illegally. They have manipulated Board elections and  prevented neighbors from voicing concerns on key issues.

Described as “obstructionists,” “bullies” and “controlling” by frustrated neighbors and residents in a recent survey, many respondents feel that the LPCA board are “anti-improvement, ” “agenda robbers,” and admitted that because of several of the openly hostile board members, most residents do not participate.

There were only 300 LPCA members in a neighborhood of 6,000 homes as of last fall. Today, due to new board members who desire to grow the membership and increase accessibility, the LPCA membership is now up to 440. However, The LPCA demonstrates an openly hostile opposition to allowing local businesses to join as full voting members, as well as claiming that the rule is one-membership per household. (The Bylaws state that “full membership is open to all people residing in Land Park over the age of 18”)

A few of the recent issues involving the LPCA meddling:

• A beautiful development proposed at the exceedingly ugly corner of 15^th & Broadway was killed when two LPCA members intervened. They insisted that the one-story project plans be change to a three-story building, that ultimately lead to the developers’ two national tenants, walking away. The irony is that the two rogue board members were instructed by the rest of the board to take no action on that project.  They ignored the directive and went to the City anyway, ultimately killing the project.

• The recent closure of Broadway Hardware and the charming owners, who provided extraordinary service to their neighbors, went unnoticed by the LPCA.
• Historic restaurant and bar Joe Marty's spent themselves into the poorhouse after the 2005 fire that closed their business, due to LPCA obstructionist demands on their attempted renovation. One LPCA activist forced them to use "original" tile in their remodel and renovation. Ironically, it turned out that it was not “original” tile after all. But by then, the owners had cashed out of their insurance policy and the building stands vacant and ugly.
• The proposed Target remodel is dead, probably never to resurface.  Most of us are happy that we even have Target in our neighborhood, much less remodeled to the ridiculous specifications of the same two LPCA Land Use fanatics. Attempted requirements by LPCA activists included: “Art” on an exterior cement wall, outdoor seating area on Broadway (for the fine dining cuisine that Target offers), reduced building square footage to allow for more trees and pretty plantings, as well as a long list of other absurdities.
• Oto's market project almost died a slow painful death because of LPCA plan changes even after city planning staff approved Oto’s plans. An “outdoor seating/dining area” was required however, no one sits outdoors to eat at Oto’s – it’s a grocery and fish market located on the busy and blighted Freeport Blvd.
• Historic Sterling Cleaners remained closed for more than nine years after a fire destroyed much of the building. Only recently, after years of planning interference and historical building designation absurdities, did they reopen.
• Several LPCA board members tried to kill the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee for Commercial Revitalization of Freeport Blvd. which included a blighted property at Del Rio Road/Sutterville. 
• The LPCA has ignored the shopping center site (mentioned above) at Del Rio Road and Sutterville Rd. (by the Zoo) for two decades, despite the increasing unsafe and unhealthy conditions, crime, illegal dumping and now, the loss of historic Land Park Pharmacy, recently closed due to the unreasonable and negligent owners of the Del Rio Road property. The LPCA has been silent about this and tried to prevent other board members from addressing it.
• The LPCA Board voted down a Transparency resolution. Who votes “No” on operating with transparency, unless there is a great deal to hide?

While the LPCA is killing projects and driving up the costs for remodels and renovations (which ultimately kills projects), they are doing nothing to help or sustain local businesses or address blighted properties.  They could instead be promoting a campaign to shop locally and develop community marketing and discounts to help direct customers to local stores.  Instead, they fought vehemently and viciously against the formation of a Commercial Revitalization Committee, which is designed to preserve and enhance our commercial corridors.  The result: business closure after business closure: Land Park Pharmacy, Broadway Hardware, Joe Marty’s, Filco and most recently, Swanberg’s, as well as an empty lot at 15^th & Broadway, facing an uglier liquor store and the unsightly former Tower Records.