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Attendance:
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Sarah Green, Ernestine Isaiah, Alan Rowlson, Marcella Palmieri,
Marti Hamilton, George Jones, Matthew Byrd, Bob Babione, and Joan
Botwinick.
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Minutes:
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The May minutes were approved with a correction.
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Main Street presentation
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Marti Hamilton and Marcella Palmieri presented
a draft of the Main Street plan for redevelopment of the Manchester
Commercial District. Some of the plan's features are:
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one lane of traffic each way instead of two;
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a turn lane in the center where needed;
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elimination of parking on the north side of the street;
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wider sidewalks on the south side of the street;
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pedestrian lighting in addition to the "cobra" lights;
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designation of the middle blocks as a historic district;
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an additional office building at Chouteau and Sarah (northeast corner);
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replacement of the building on the northeast corner of Boyle and Manchester (N&M Market)
with a multi-story, "mixed use" building;
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upgrading Manchester Market to meet neighborhood needs;
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a restaurant on the northwest corner of Tower Grove and Manchester
(Blitt's for many years); and
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continuation of residential units.
Responses from members included observations that N&M market was
useful to local residents for milk and other small items and that
it provided sandwiches at a reasonable price. The two markets were
useful to residents without cars and both were busy. Marcella
declined to discuss incentives to improve the present markets.
The planners hope for an open house to get more
neighborhood participation
in the plan. A member suggested more facilities for children in the
plan. Marcella made notes of the comments on a drawing showing land
use and Marti emphasized the planners do not want to get residents
off of Manchester.
The plan is being developed by the Main Street Committee of the FPSE
Housing Corporation. Implementation funds are not presently available.
The committee will accept comments until July 31.
A FPSE Showcase is planned for September to show off the neighborhood
and bring in new people. One member worried that with new people able
to pay higher rent and buy higher-priced homes that rents will go
up for current residents so that they cannot afford to stay.
Metropolis is working on the showcase.
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Affordable Housing Trust Fund
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Mayor Slay is trying to get more than
$5 million from the fund for his budget, use affordable housing and
Connect Care dollars for things not expressly described in the trust
fund ordinance. For instance, he wants trust fund money for
conservation districts, hiring more inspectors. The commission
awarded the mayor $2.2 million.
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Voter registration
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The Board of Elections has a program for
Community Registrars. If a group will participate, the Board will
train them. The registrars can register new voters and update voting
records (changes of names or addresses). Bob mentioned that an organizing
grant may be available for the registration work.
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ARCHS funding
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Bob reported on ARCHS's continuing funding problems. ARCHES board
members
formed a separate group to raise additional funds for organizational
needs. Several of the top administration positions will be paid for
by outside donors. Serena Muhammed resigned as neighborhood
facilitator as neighborhoods were grouped together and ARCHS
staffing was changed.
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Adjournment
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The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
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