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Gibson Heights Neighborhood News, February, 2002
February agenda
   Vince Bennett will report on progress at the Assisted Living Facility at Kingshighway and Cadet. Also, it will be time to think about Brightside's Spring Blitz, which will be on April 13.
Community Meeting - Housing
The FPSE Housing Corporation's annual community meeting will be Thursday, February 28, at 6 p.m. at Adams Park Community Center. A general session will cover current activities. After that, residents can participate in housing and Main Street (Manchester) workshops.
Progress in the parks
   The top soil in Triangle Park (Kingshighway - Manchester - Cadet) will be prepared for seeding this spring, Susan Glassman of Urban Strategies reported at the January meeting. Three feet of soil will be dug up and tested. Then a plastic liner will be put in place. After soil testing, the area will be refilled and readied for use. Also in the works are signs and commercial-free bus shelters for the park. The Assisted Living Center will provide office space and restrooms for park projects.
   Glassman also reported that the Science Center started its Youth Experience Science (YES) program. Twenty-five fourteen-year-olds from the FPSE, McRee, and Shaw neighborhoods will be paid as they attend Saturday hands-on science workshops. After that, the youths will be teachers of other youths during June and July.
   Progress with Rainbow Park (Taylor and Gibson) is slow. Additional funds are being sought and a memorandum of understanding with Metro Ministries is being prepared.
   The association's presentation about access to Forest Park via Clayton Avenue was well received by the Forest Park Advisory Board.Gibson Heights representatives will continue to meet with Neighborhood Stabilization Officer Brian Wilson and an Advisory Board committee in a effort to restore access.
St. Louis Art Works
   Neighborhood residents aged 14 to 21can work in various art media and get paid during programs by St. Louis Art Works this summer. Art Works will offer experience in a variety of media, including film and photography. Grants from the city and from the Arts Works will fund the positions. The application deadline for the city-funded positions is March 15; the deadline for the others is April 3.
   Application forms are available from the Adams Park Community Center, by calling 633.7901. For details about the dates and subjects of the programs, call Priscilla Block at the Art Works, 314.589.8019.
Please do your dues
   Annual association dues are payable at the beginning of the year. Please help replenish our treasury with your $5 dues payment for 2002.
Home Repair Grants
   The Missouri Housing Development Commission awarded $35,000 from the Housing Trust Fund to the FPSE Housing Corporation for making grants to very low income households for home repairs. (A March, 2001 HUD documents defines "very low income" for St. Louis as between $21,150 and $39,850 annually, depending on family size between one and eight.)
   The number and grant amounts are not yet determined. Kellie Shelton, at 314.533.6704, will have additional information as it becomes available.
Housing Corporation news
   The FPSE Housing Corporation adopted a new meeting schedule. After the February 28 annual meeting, the committees will meet during March, May, July, September, and November. The Board will meet in the other months, April, June, August, October, and December. The board meetings will continue to be on the first Monday of the month, at 6 p.m.
   The corporation has an option to buy the building at 4398 Gibson for use as its office with a residential unit upstairs. The corporation is seeking an architect to determine design and costs.
   City funding for the corporation is expected to decrease in its 2003 fiscal year, possibly by 25 percent. The reduction results from the "borrowing" of future block grants for the convention hotel and other projects. Main Street art and committees Imagine Art Here, a workshop to identify places where art can be located and opportunities for artists will be held on Saturday, April 27. Contact Marti Hamilton at 314.533.6704 ext. 13 for further information.
   Meanwhile, the Housing Corporation's Main Street Program is working to improve Manchester's appearance, document the history of the street, promote it to artists and small businesses, and develop a master plan with design guidelines. The next meetings will be on March 20 and May 15, at 4 p.m. at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, on the 6th floor of the Chouteau Building.
   Also, subcommittees working on organization, design, economic restructuring, and promotion are also meeting. Marti will be happy to fill you in on the committee projects and meeting times. Call her at 314.533.6704 ext. 13

For more information and to make suggestions, send e-mail to Bob Babione.

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