Most neighbors are patient with the land owner, but some bemoan
graffiti that often covers the three large storage containers
Gilroy – Luke Brugnara purchased his home off of Redwood Retreat Road for the scenic views and country feeling. So did many of his neighbors.
So what’s the problem?
Some call them unsightly, some just believe the three metal storage containers on Brugnara’s property are luring unwanted vandals into their neighborhood.
The solution: Postponed due to weather.
“Obviously, I want to keep those safe. I have valuables I want to be protected,” he said. “You can only do what you can do with the inclement weather.”
Brugnara already spent $10,000 trying to move the three large 100,000-pound containers closer to his home and farther from the roadside, but the ground is too soggy to move them, he said.
“This is nothing vindictive,” he explained. “The roads are too soggy. We have to wait until the soil is rock solid.”
And some neighbors are tired of waiting.
“They are terrible,” said longtime resident Frank Pattie. “They’re huge. They’ve been up for over a year.”
For Pattie who has to drive by the three containers every time he leaves his home, they are a blight to see.
“They’re right in the road,” he said. “When you first come by you can’t miss them. This guy’s got about 110 acres and he just dumped them.”
But Brugnara insists they are the mandated distance away from the roadside and will be moved during the summer once the ground hardens.
And while some Redwood Retreat Road residents don’t mind the containers, they are concerned about the graffiti appearing on the sides of the boxes. Patches of discolored paint appear on the sides blocking the taggings vandals left behind.
“The containers there aren’t the big deal. The issue is they’re a target of vandalism, and of course no one likes to see graffiti or vandalism,” explained resident Danny Forbes.
According to Forbes, vandals have been out at least twice tagging the sides of the containers. All he wants is for the graffiti to be cleared up as soon as possible when it happens.
Neighbor Steve Little does not object to the containers since they do not really obstruct his view, he can understand what some residents are upset about.
“If I had to look out my window everyday and see them, I would be pretty upset,” he said. “It would just be nice if they weren’t there. Everybody on the road just has to drive past them.”
According to Little, he didn’t think much about the containers until he discovered one of the boxes was broken into earlier last week by vandals.
“It draws vandals … We have kids. We have enough to worry about with mountain lions,” he explained. “It’s not local punks either. It’s that gang graffiti.”
But Little has already spoken with Brugnara and believes he will live up to his word when the weather breaks and ground sets.
“I bought this ranch down here in Gilroy because I love the country,” Brugnara said. “People don’t have to worry, we’re all on the same page.”
