Sentinel staff report–
A pile of personal belongings, furniture and trash has disappeared from a shopping center in Citrus Heights, with only some shards of broken glass and a few scattered papers remaining on the ground.
The Sentinel published a story on Sunday about resident concerns regarding the pile, and Citrus Heights police said code enforcement was involved. By Tuesday afternoon the pile was gone.
From Sunday: Junk pile in Citrus Heights shopping center raises concerns from residents
Dan Chiavario of the San Diego-based Strategic Asset Management Group, which manages the Copperwood Square shopping center, said he had authorized cleanup of the pile after being contacted by The Sentinel over the weekend. He said new protocols are now in place to ensure any future dumping is cleaned up “asap.”
“Unfortunately, during times of economic downturn these types of things occur and the pandemic has caused more than I’ve ever seen,” said Chiavario.
Citrus Heights Police Lt. Michael Wells said Wednesday that notices from code enforcement were sent to the property owner and confirmed the pile had been cleaned up. He said the property owner also plans to temporarily fence off the area “to prevent future issues.”
An adjacent property at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Sungarden Drive remains fenced off, following demolition of a former bank building at the site earlier this year. The location is separately owned from the shopping center and is slated for new construction of a retail center that will reportedly include a Starbucks drive-thru.
The Copperwood Square shopping center is home to FoodMaxx, a liquor store, several restaurants, and Planet Fitness. Chiavario said the fitness center recently signed a 12-year lease to expand its location to take up the former Hometown Buffet restaurant, which closed in 2016.
Upgrades for the center slated for completion this year include new LED lighting for buildings and the parking lot, as well as upgraded landscaping, pylon signage, and pavement resurfacing, according to Chiavario.
