London Properties is helping Valley homeowners launch neighborhood watch programs.

Realtors with the Fresno real estate company have met with police and sheriff's departments in Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Sanger, Kingsburg, Chowchilla and Merced to discuss ways to reduce crime and start neighborhood watch programs, said Patrick Conner, president and broker at London Properties.

"Safe neighborhoods mean higher home values," Conner said. "Higher home values are better for our home owners and for Realtors. That's why we're here to help."

The company will provide watch groups with street signs, meeting facilities and printing services for free. It also will manage a database of addresses in those neighborhoods so the groups can mail the homeowners meeting notices.

"The biggest hurdles are having someone lead the program, being able to reach everyone and posting appropriate signage," Conner said. "We have those resources and we are committed to healthy and safe neighborhoods."

Realtors bowl for scholarships

The Tulare County Association of Realtors is doing more than just selling homes or monitoring the real estate market.

In October, the association held a bowling tournament to raise money for scholarships for area high school students.

This year's tournament was held Oct. 25 at the AMF Visalia Lanes, where 37 teams and about 160 association members participated. The association raised $4,658.

The tournament is one of several fundraising events -- including a casino night, golf tournament and picnic -- held throughout the year to raise money for community organizations, said Karl Hampton, the association's executive officer.

"Our Realtor members live, work and play in the community ... the fact that their organization helps support and improve the community is very important to them," Hampton said.

New live-and-work units downtown

Construction has started on a new GV Urban project in downtown Fresno.

The concrete pads are in place for 1612 Fulton, a 30-unit mixed-used development next to Biz-Werx, a business center at Fulton and Calaveras streets. The center was also built by GV Urban, a division of Granville Homes.

The new development will have 18 single-floor residential units that range from 645 to 706 square feet with an attached garage, a balcony or patio, washer and dryer hookups and stainless steel appliances.

Another 12 three-story live-and-work units will also be built. The first floor will have 199 square feet of office space while the second and third floors will have 1,297 square feet of living space. The units will have a two-car garage and a balcony.

The development is expected to be finished by summer.