Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Not Private Enough


You know I'm going in there.

This road is in Altadena, which is not an actual town, legally speaking, but an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. What makes the road private, I wonder? Can they really keep me out? Do none of my county taxes pay for their roads, their infrastructure?

"Private Road" calls mansions to mind, but up this way you won't find anything fancy. It's quiet, though, unless your neighbor's blasting his stereo with the windows open--which has been known to happen.

25 comments:

Pascal Jim said...

Is this the charming entrance to those small cottages below the Cobb Estate??

Sahildeki Ev said...

Go for it.. Now I wonder what's up there, too. :))

Shell Sherree said...

I'd want to go in there, but I'd be too chicken!

Brenda's Arizona said...

When are you going??? I am impatient to see! This is the most inviting idea I have read since "The Secret Garden"!!

Monica Hubbard said...

If Altadena were incorporated I think it would be called a "city." Since it's not incorporated, it's called a "town." That's why our advisory committee to Supervisor Antonovich is called the "Town Council." I haven't been able to locate a document on LA County's Web site that spells out the distinction, but that's my understanding of it.

Greg Sweet said...

Altadena is a "Census-Designated Place"

Katie said...

I'm definitely curious about what's up that pretty road, but like Shell I know I'd be too chicken to just waltz up there to check it out.

Cafe Observer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Petrea Burchard said...

You got it, Pascal Jim.

I've been up there many times. I used to live nearby and there are several entrances. It could be the sign refers only to cars. The residents have never hassled me. It's a nice walk. I'll take pictures next time I go, but honestly--just a neighborhood, nothing fancy. If they didn't put up the sign no one would be the least bit intrigued.

Interesting info from Monica and Greg, thank you.

Cafe Observer said...

You know, P, several unincorporated blogger's live in AltaDena. I wunder which one(s) wants to live in such privacy. Your guess is better than mind.

Thanks for eavesdropping, PDP! I hope it's not a blast of noise but instead a wunderfull extraordinary collection of sounds such as the constant wail of sirens.

Or maybe nothing at all, except your own footsteps as you investigate their privacy for your public - us.

This is the beginning of a recipe for a mystery novel.

Unknown said...

LOL! That's Alpine Villa Drive and yes, that's where those cottages are below the Cobb Estate. I lived on Villa Grove Drive for 11 years - we loved it up there but the Rubio Canyon fire was scarey!

It's a beautiful street and hiking is wonderful....go up and check it out.

Laurie Allee said...

Oh, I want to see what's up there!

Tash said...

If it's open, it's fair game. & if it's like our complex, the builder originally built the roads & the association (with my-OK all of residents'-fees) maintains them.
P. - I linked your HOPE-JOY-FAITH on my post today.

Bellis said...

I don't "trespass" as much as I used to now there's Google Streetview. But what did their van do when it got to this sign, I wonder?

Petrea Burchard said...

Ooh, thank you, Tash! I'm off to visit.

Hmm. Bellis, Street View doesn't seem to be available for Alpine Villa Drive.

Dina said...

You go girl!

pasadenapio said...

Private roads are not public property, and the owners of these roads are solely responsible for their upkeep.

There are a few private roads in Pasadena, such as the narrow and winding ones on the hillsides off Linda Vista Avenue.

The City of Pasadena legally cannot require the owners of these roads to conform to the same standards for minimum width, curbs, gutters and street lights that are required for public roads.

If there is a mudslide or potholes, the residents must hire contractors to come in and do the clean-up, repair work, etc., on the private roads -- work that the City of Pasadena would do as a matter of course on public roads. Also, on some of the roads it is impossible for 30-foot-long, 10-foot-wide fire engines to maneuver into those neighborhoods.

I presume that the same issues apply with private roads in unincorporated L.A. County.

Pat Sharp said...

I just talked to John....here is my link.
http://mecollective.blogspot.com/search/label/Pat%20Sharp
http://sharpdesignsstudio.blogspot.com/
Modern Postcards is AAA! 3 of us from Milbridge have ordered 500 postcards from them ( pop 1,200. here)and been very happy with them!

Petrea Burchard said...

PIO, this would explain Lori W's comment about the Rubio Canyon fire. I've never heard of private fire service.

Hello, Pat. Would you believe I've heard of your collective? Thanks for the recommendation!

Ms M said...

Even though the place has now been "uncovered", I know we'd still enjoy seeing photos from your trek into the "forbidden" area.

Amy said...

Go in, you're a resident of course. :D

Petrea Burchard said...

I'll take another trip up there with the camera. On a week day.

Desiree said...

I've emerged from the road plenty of times. Ah, the tales I could tell...

Pasadena Adjacent said...

I looked at four properties when I bought my home. One was a cabin on Villa Zanita thats not visible from google maps. Super cool in that from the back yard it had one of those under the street streams passing through.

The last time I passed through one of these situations I had some woman stop me (even though I was calm and explained myself) then tell me to stay put while she called the police on her cell phone.

I think not

Petrea Burchard said...

Hm, Desiree, maybe they recognize you as a local. From PA's story it sounds dangerous.

They may be used to foot travelers being so close to a trail head. But I wouldn't dare park my car there.