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Attendance
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Pam Talley, Alan Rowlson, Ann Thompson, George Jones, Bill Sauders,
Diana Green, Bob Babione, Rich Bonasch, Ernestine Isaiah, Dan Scott
with three special guests, Tiron Bell, Travell Hill, and Brandon Bell),
Don De Vivo, Joe Roddy, Joan Botwinick, and Terrell Thompson.
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Minutes
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The June 25 minutes were approved as submitted and circultated.
- Metropolis-Housing Corporation partnertship
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Rick Bonasch, chair of the Metropolis Living Environment Committee,
discussed the Metropolis partnership with the Forest Park Southeast
Housing Corporation. Rick stressed that he has met with Saundra Moss
of the Neighborhood Coordination Team and other organizations and
that other organizations are welcome to join the partnership. He views
FPSE as a crossroads and a "keystone," being strategically positioned
to build more communities.
The goals of the one-year partnership are: the Neighborhood showcase
on September 14; neighborhood-wide block captain network; and a "sustainable
wash" designed and carried out as a regular activity by neighborhood
residents. The goals were formulated after discussions with Marcella
Palmieri, David Renard and Metropolis members. He does not intend
to replace any existing efforts and if it is found that any of the
activities are not necessary, Metropolis will change its objectives.
Rick expects to continue as the Metropolis liaison to FPSE even after
his six-month term on the Metropolis board ends.
The September 14 Showcase, which will be at Adams Community Center,
is to highlight life in FPSE. The Senior Assisted Living Center at
Cadet and Kingshighway will be the city's house of the month that
weekend. Greg Freeman is committed to narrating a "virtual tour"
and writing lead-up columns. Rick can be reached at
rick@rhcda.com
or 314.333.7007.
Joan mentioned, and Rick acknowledged his awareness of, resentment
in the neighborhood about the high-priced efforts and lack of anything
for real low income families, as distinguished from the official definition
of low income as $35,000 or $40,000 per year. (Here are HUD's
FY 2000 and 2001
limits, with definitions
of income categories such as "low income.")
George Jones suggested getting together young people in the neighborhood
with the young people in Metropolis, especially to address neglected
interests of the young African-American males in the neighborhood.
Rick expressed personal agreement with getting affordable housing on
the Metropolis agenda. Rick suggested that the Council could succeed
with a home repair proposal by making a concrete plan and then
working on all the details needed to effectively present
it within the general context of city policies. Negotiations would
be necessary to move any proposal forward with neighborhood /
community alliances. He noted the difference in
the "industry standard" conversations about housing development
and individualistic, sweat-equity efforts and observed that the issue
was "bigger than FPSE" as it involved the whole city setting its
housing goals.
In discussion, members suggested having an information packet on September
14, inviting the whole community, especially residents south of Manchester,
and including topics such as the following.
Pam urged insisting on balance in any program instead of continuing
to have so little concern for the easy to neglect.
Dan noted that Rick observed that the housing corporation
provides neighborhood-wide representation in its board makeup
and would be "in trouble"
if it is not community driven. But how is that so, Dan asked. He
noted that Phil Heagney had expressed concern that it was not community
driven and Dan thought the HC was not community driven. Nonetheless,
the HC was not in any trouble as it enjoyed continued public funding
and support from the mayor and alderman. He noted the lack of effort
at job training.
Various methods of getting out the community's message were discussed.
A possible theme is that FPSE presents a tale of two communities.
Attention has to be given to the community of economic desolation.
George moved and Pam seconded a motion to make a statement from
the Council that many issues are not being addressed in this community.
Motion unanimously adopted by the members present.
George reminded members of the need for funds to publicize the position;
Members contributed $59.00.
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Main Street
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Don said he thinks that "they" are planning to use eminent domain
because there isn't any money otherwise. He counted and reported to
Main Street that 80 parking places would be lost under the plan to
eliminate parking on the north side of Manchester. He noted that the
Delmar Loop and South Grand had parking on both sides of the streets.
He also noted there were no plans to fix the sidewalks, or even finishing
work around the Assisted Living Center and that the street drug problem
was not mentioned. Bob commented that, in his opinion, eminent domain
is not a money maker.
Joan reported there were no funds in the Main Street plan to help
low income homeowners to
fix their homes and that Marti Hamilton responded at another meeting
that owners would have to seek funding on their own; Bill observed
that the same was true for businesses.
Other comments: this plan was another example of excluding residents
so that the whole plan was flawed and should be redone the right way;
the plan should have funds to help low income homeowners for their
homes on Manchester; Bob said he thought the plans emphasizing proper
color schemes and window rhythms was at odds with the rough-and-ready
individualism of business owners still functioning and adoption of
the facade and design standards would price artists out of coming
to the neighborhood; someone asked where would the conversion of residential
areas to parking stop ("Am I next?"), which was especially painful
if the displacing parking went unused; the planners "don't live here"
and want to make the neighborhood comparable to the Delmar Loop and
want the present people to leave; Ann said "that's stupid" of the
plan to change N&M Market, and another said that closing the store
to put it in a new building would get people who depend on N&M to
leave.
- Elections
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After discussion of the need to complete the complement of officers,
the members unanimously elected Ernestine Isaiah as Treasurer and
Dan Scott as vice president.
- Adjounment
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The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. The next meeting will be August 27. Specific plans for the Showcase to
be finalized at that time.
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