Officials are wrestling with how to prevent the city's collection of 1970s ranch-style homes from deteriorating. Medians that were paved over by the county are now planted with trees and flowers. Banners have been hung to mark the city's territory. Janet Ruggiero, community development director, said Citrus Heights may establish new programs to help people buy or fix up houses in the city. The grimy, leaky buildings, which demand constant attention from county law enforcement agents and building inspectors, squat behind high chain-link fences.
Boards cover the windows of one recently burned building.
Marie Smith and her two teenage children have lived in a second-floor apartment on the street for two years. She has a new landlord, who recently bought the building from a man who had been criminally prosecuted by the county for failing to correct code violations. We all stay inside the gate. Let us hear from you.