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Attendance
- Sarah Green, Bob Babione, Sr. Leah Holzum, Kim Jayne and
DJ., Alan D. Rawlson, George Jones, Ernestine Isaiah, Joan Botwinick,
Officer Denise Strittmatter (3d District), and Joseph P. Roddy.
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Minutes
- The March minutes were approved after short discussion
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WU relocation policy
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Bob asked Joan to report on the keynote speeches of Mark Wrighton (Washington
University) and Rev. Lawrence Biondi (St. Louis U.) at the Urban Conference.
A slide show dealt with the great increase in SLU's buildings since
Biondi came. Wrighton talked about the WU's research focus. Joan asked
Wrighton what responsibility WU took to help families who were being
displaced from areas the university bought for students and faculty.
Joan said he did not address that question, but described how WU was
offering $4,000 to WU people who would buy houses in areas the university
was developing.
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Street safety
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Members discussed how safe the streets are. New Resident Alan Rowlson
wanted to know if it was safe to walk at night. Others suggested there
is still drug and crime activity, so one should use normal precautions:
be aware of who is out, what they are doing, do not display valuables,
walk with purpose in your step. Officer Strittmatter, who assigned
to FPSE, stressed that you DO NOT have to give your name, address,
or phone number when you call 241-COPS, and when you call 911, you
may say clearly that you do not want any officer to come to your door.
(911 uses caller ID, but 241-COPS does not; Strittmatter reviews all
the calls to the COPS line for her areas.) Strittmatter said that
if we were not satisfied with the response from 911 or 241-COPS or
had other issues, we could call her at 444.0100 and she would answer
or respond to voice messages.
The Fixx-up Fund will have workers in the area to do repairs on several
homes and there was a question about their safety. While daytime theft
is not common, the suggestions were to have someone reliable watch
the contractor's truck and equipment and to advise Officer Strittmatter
who would notify patrols to be specially watchful in the area where
the work would be done. George Jones said he was willing to help out.
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4500 Oakland
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Kim Jayne reported on Don DeVivo's suggestion for a continuous fence
line on Oakland. With a community garden on now vacant lots and a
fence to deter circulation of drug dealers and make the street friendlier
and safer.
4520 Oakland is being treated as a nuisance
property, with a May hearing. [Sue Lauritsen reported later via FPSEtalk
e-mail that the judge put the 4520 Oakland owners, two elderly women,
on strict probation with orders not to tolerate drug activity by younger
people at the property.]
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History south of Manchester
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George wants to develop history for the area South of Manchester, noting
the street itself is part of "Historic Route 66." With history, tax credits
would be available for particular properties. George fears the south
part of the neighborhood will disappear if it does not get attention
to its history. He noted that 4432 Norfolk, Lot 14, may have served
as an Underground Railroad station. He has information on the property
back into the 1800s and is working on getting more. He asked for Council
support as proposals could be developed.
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Main Street
- A request was made for more information about the Main
Street grant and the availability of support for businesses not on
Manchester.
- Adjournment
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The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
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