Council Meeting Report

Thanks to TOPS for hosting again. Our next meeting will be June 11 at 5:30 at MIFA.

Attending Sharon Coleman, PV leader; Rev. Derrick Davis, Jenny B-Prescott, Don Hassle, Nelsie Brown, Jonathon Mrazek and Dale Gunn.

At our 4-7 we discussed having some stationery to use for flyers to announce meetings, etc. I took a stab at it but need some help. Jenny, I could not get the CHC logo to copy from the web site. Gavin, you are probably the one to work on this. And Trina, Methodist should approve the use of the logo.

Numerous concerns with the physical and social condition of rental properties were discussed. Derrick Davis will work on getting the demolition process started on some of the derelict properties.

The Peabody Vance neighborhood Council has been registered as an active neighborhood with Mr. Donald Jones of the Office of Planning and Development. Sharon Coleman will contact Mr. Jones to get more copies of the OPD cards with helpful contact information of various government offices.

The group can improve with a little more structure. Derrick Davis will get a copy of the bylaws from his Parkway Neighborhood Association for PV to use as a model.

Jonathon Mrazek will make contacts to get street lights installed on Camilla.

Don Hassell will continue his work to get trash cans installed in the neighborhood

Security Meeting Report

Midtown Security Community--

Please see the enclosed link that will give you a quick overview/review of key points from our recent MSC meeting.

http://midtownsecurity.blogspot.com/2009/02/10-top-highlights-msc-meeting-on.html

"Be part of the solution. Help keep Midtown a safe place to live and work."

Best,
Peggy Williamson

Peggy Williamson, Chair
Midtown Security Community
272.9027 or 493.4306
www.midtownsecuritycommunity.org (our new blog!)

Council Meeting Report

Thanks to Pastor Derrick Davis for hosting our meeting last night. A small, but interested group of Peabody Vance folks attended including three homeowners (Don Hassell, Sharon Coleman and Dale Gunn), three institutions (TOPS, Church Health, MIFA), one business (Andy Griffin from Cotton Boll) and four guests (Dr. R Jamison, Felecia Barnes, Barry and Katie Lincoln) who are interested in the area. 

Next meeting:
Tuesday April 7, 5:30 pm,
Tabernacle of Praise, 306 S Somerville
Leader – Sharon Coleman

 
Discussion at the 2-9-09 meeting:

Jenny Prescott (CHC) discussed the web site that Gavin Anderson has updated; we hope this is a good communication tool for the area; address is www.newpathwaysinc.com; analytics on hits were not available; please contact Gavin gavin@sterlingstudiosinc.com to add information

Don Hassell has found a way to get free trashcans for the neighborhood. Mike Camerati at the Sanitation Dept. 272-2408 is with a division of Solid Waste that will supply, install and empty them weekly; the New Pathways logo can be added at our expense; Don will follow up to get them installed at high traffic spots on Dudley, Somerville, Pauline and Vance; Don will check with OPD to determine any code regulations that control their placement.

Sharon Coleman has worked hard to thwart the opening of a club in the old gas station at Linden and Dudley. A group has attempted to open a business as a Thrift Shop and then slyly flip the use to a club; parking requirements will hopefully prevent this but the neighbors should remain vigilant.

Dr. Jamison voiced his interest in everyone rallying together to push crime out of the neighborhood. He grew up and attended school in the area and remembers how nice things were.

Sharon Coleman will organize and lead the April 7 meeting; Margaret Craddock will be the secretary and will send out notices; everyone will try to bring two new people; Andy Griffin from Cotton Boll Catering will treat us with spaghetti and slaw for 25 people.
 
Thoughts from Margaret Craddock: I have been involved with this New Pathways effort in the Peabody-Vance neighborhood for about six years. For all of this time it has been led by the institutions – MIFA, Church Health Center and Methodist. These institutions, the businesses and TOPS as a congregation can get the attention of the city and of the police. The new push is about the voice of the homeowners in the Peabody-Vance neighborhood and making yourselves heard downtown. It is about your leadership and grassroots efforts, not those of MIFA and Church Health. Jenny Bartlett-Prescott from Church Health and I will support you, but not lead and organize. So, step up as Sharon Coleman has to do all you can to bring in others and recreate the neighborhood that Dr. Jamison remembers. You may want to shrink the focus area somewhat at the 4-7 meeting. It seems like it might be better to have success with a small area that you can concentrate effectively on and then branch out after a cohesive group develops. I am happy to keep sending the emails that you tell me to send. Thanks for being interested. It was nice to be with all of you last night.