If you look to the right of the page on our blog you will see some new links to nearby Neighborhood Associations and to websites and blogs that are concerned with Living Here, including the Hollygrove Farmers Market and Farm.
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A large part of our geography is contained within the “Oak Street Music and Gallery Corridor Cultural District”.
In 2007, the Louisiana Legislature passed Act 298, creating the state’s Cultural Districts program. It provides tax incentives to spark community revitalization based on cultural activity. As a result of this legislation, within designated Cultural Districts, sales of original, one-of-a-kind works of art are exempt from both state and local sales and use taxes. Also income and corporate franchise tax credits are allowed for eligible expenses for rehabilitation of owner-occupied or revenue generating structures in a Cultural District.
There are more than a dozen Cultural Districts across New Orleans and more across the state.
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CRNA Monthly Meeting – Minutes
June 11, 2009
Attending—Board: Marilyn Barbera, Kevin Brown, Julianna Padgett, Gary Smith, and Jerry Speir
Absent Board Members: Pax Bobrow, Betty DiMarco, Rudolf Garrison, Tilman Hardy, Gordon Cagnolatti, Marshall Hevron, Todd Leavitt, Judith Miranti, Amanda Smithson, Llewelyn Soniat, Jim Stratton, and Betsy Weymann
Residents/Guests: Lyn Adams, Marilyn Kearney, Elaine Leyda, Mary Martin, Phil Martin, Cindy Morse, and Anne Nicolay
Marilyn Kearney, Director of the Oak Street Main Street project, reported on the status of the Oak Street renovation and answered questions from the group about the street’s future. The renovation work has been temporarily halted by the Corps of Engineers because of the high level of the river. Work is expected to re-start within the next week.
Questions about the street’s future included: Will the street be one-way? Will there be meters? What about the traffic problems in front of Jacque-imo’s and the Maple Leaf in the evenings? How might we recruit “good businesses” to the many vacancies on the street? Would it be reasonable to make part of the street a “pedestrial mall” in the evenings? How can we encourage more residential occupancy in the upstairs spaces on the street? What about a streetcar spur down Oak Street?
Clearly, the renovation of the street has focused our concerns on the street in new ways and there is an opportunity for new neighborhood cooperation on issues surrounding the street. In the course of the discussion, it was decided that it would be appropriate to hold a separate meeting, with representation from both CRNA and the Oak Street Association to consider all issues pertaining to the street.
Marilyn Kearney agreed to help organize the first meeting of such a group. Of those present at the meeting, Ann Nicolay, Phil Martin, Cindy Morse, Marilyn Barbera, Gary Smith and Bob Bermudez volunteered to take part. The meeting will be open to anyone who is interested.
Elaine Leyda spoke about efforts that she is organizing to clean-up (and save) the Nix Library. Nix is scheduled for closure under the Library’s Master Plan. Saturday morning at 8:30 there will be a clean-up at Nix. Volunteers are encouraged to bring perhaps buckets and scrub brushes for cleaning on the building itself and trashbags, rakes and brooms for cleaning the grounds and sidewalks. A later phase will involve some landscaping and tree planting. Efforts are also under way to try to get the library open on Saturday—and ultimately to get it back into the Library’s long-range vision for our neighborhood. Elaine can be contacted at littlenixlibrary@gmail.com
Marilyn Barbera reported on the Capacity College, organized by the Neighborhood Partnership Network, that several CRNA members attended since our last meeting . The group chose to work on urban gardening and is working toward refining a project. Elaine Leyda also reported that one of the lessons from the Capacity College was the need for surveying our organization’s membership—for doing a “needs assessment”—to help define our own future. Some preliminary discussion of such a survey has begun. Anyone with experience and/or interest in such a project should please contact Jerry Speir at jerryspeir@hotmail.com
Jim Stratton was complemented for organizing our association’s participation in the Preservation Resource Center’s Neighborhood Sellabration event, which featured available properties in our neighborhood for prospective buyers. Thank you, Jim
Jerry Speir gave a brief update on the neighborhood land-use planning process that has been led by the Carrollton-Audubon Renaissance, Inc. (CARI) group. The latest version of the land-use map and a report on its development should be on the organization’s website soon http://www.carrollton-audubon.org/
Gary Smith reported on the code enforcement hearing re: the house at Dante and Zimpel. The owner was fined $500 plus $75 in court costs and given 30 days to clean up the property and secure it. Failing that, the fines will be $500 a day to a maximum of $15,000. Thanks to all who attended that hearing.
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CRNA Monthly Meeting – Minutes
May 14, 2009
Attending—Board: Marilyn Barbera, Pax Bobrow, Betty DiMarco, Rudolf Garrison, Tilman Hardy, Marshall Hevron, Gary Smith, Jerry Speir, and Betsy Weymann
Absent Board Members: Kevin Brown, Gordon Cagnolatti, Todd Leavitt, Judith Miranti, Julianna Padgett, Amanda Smithson, Llewelyn Soniat, and Jim Stratton
Residents/Guests: Brian Adams, Buddy Adams, Jeff Baker, Cara Beal, Larel Brashears, Joseph Cerise, Kevin Delaney, Lee Downs, Ralph Driscoll, Mary DeWitt Dukes, Rick Fifield, Amberly Fox, Kristy Gonzales, Kawann Harris, Cecilia Holzenthal, Danny Keiffer, Joseph Kane, Amelia Leonardi, Jacques Leonardi, Danny Martin, Phil McLeod, Cindy Morse, Marilyn Neumann, Stephen Novak, Charlene Quinlan, Tommy Quinlan, Kevin Rung, Flo Snow, Jill Stephens, Joseph Voltz, Charlene Walvoord, Katie Winters, Patrick Winters
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The majority of the meeting was taken up with a consideration of a proposed wine bar at the corner of Oak and Dante, in the space most recently occupied by the White Pillars Emporium.
The developer, Katie Winters, her partner and architect, attended to answer questions.
Jerry Speir explained that the meeting was prompted by the existence of a moratorium on new alcohol licenses in Carrollton, which was passed by the City Council at the urging of neighborhood associations—led by the Maple Area Residents, Inc (MARI) organization. CRNA supported the moratorium. The political/legal consequence of the moratorium is that an applicant for a new license must appeal the moratorium, which requires action by the City Council—and our present Councilwoman seeks the input of the neighborhood association on these issues. The moratorium has a term of one year, with the possibility of extension for a second year at the Council’s discretion.
Because she is still in the phase of negotiating the purchase of the property, Ms. Winters has not gotten to the point of creating drawings for the property or of negotiating with the city about parking details and the like. But she offered the following information:
The building, as is, occupies 12,000 square feet of space. Some of that is in a shed at the rear of the building that she expects to tear down, because it does not conform to building codes. Some of the space is in essentially un-useable, low-ceilinged upstairs areas. Some would be rented out to a tenant. (As you face the building, there are three sections; the right-hand, upriver third would be partitioned off and rented. The yoga studio already on Oak has expressed interest because their present space is too small.) Some of the building, in the area of the attached warehouse/garage would be converted to off-street parking—the precise number of spaces and the traffic flow in-and-out to be determined.
That would leave a projected 1800-2000 square feet for the wine bar and amenities, plus an outdoor patio on Oak that she expects to be about 1000 square feet.
She seeks to attract an upscale clientele, anticipates opening at 4 p.m., and contemplates closing at 2 a.m., at least on weekends. The establishment would have a limited food menu—which she described as “girly food”—tapas, salads, cheeses, etc. She would like to have music, of a piano bar sort, and expressed a willingness to limit the hours of such entertainment.
She believes that she can provide sufficient parking on-site so that the project will not need a parking variance from the city.
She expects to comply with historic restoration guidelines, re: the façade of the building, sufficient to qualify for state tax credits.
Questions raised included:
–Given the size of the property, how can we be sure the bar won’t expand over time?
–If the business does not succeed, what might the property become under a future owner?
–How will garbage be handled?
–How will deliveries be handled?
–Would she consider opening another type of business in the space?
–Would she expect to put tables on the sidewalk?
–What experience does she have running such a business? What evidence does she have that it will succeed?
–Who will operate/manage the business?
She expressed a willingness to sign an agreement with CRNA, similar to those that we have signed with Saltwater Grill and the Jazmine Café (which would be filed in the public conveyance records and give CRNA a right to sue for enforcement) that could address limitations on such things as space devoted to the bar, garbage, deliveries, and sidewalk tables—in addition to such issues as noise, parking, hours of operation, video poker (which she does not seek), signage, and the like. The agreement would also state that the alcohol license and exemption from the current moratorium on liquor licenses would not transfer with the property, should she decide to sell it.
She has no interest in pursuing a different type of business at the location. She believes that the business will succeed based on the success of similar establishments (the Delachaise on St. Charles and Cure on Freret were mentioned)—and based on the fact that she and her partners expect to be able to start up the business without a substantial debt load. She would be the managing partner, though an on-site manager would be hired. She noted that, though she has not operated a business of this sort, she has managed several real estate renovations—houses and a commercial building in the French Quarter—and she directed attendees to New Orleans Magazine for a feature on one of her houses as an example of the quality she expects to put into the building. She is also a successful attorney with a major local law firm.
As to the scenario of the business failing and a different bar (or other operation) succeeding it, it was noted that the agreements that CRNA has with Saltwater Grill and Jazmine Café are significantly different. Those agreements are about trying to ensure that restaurants do not become bars and, because of the different zoning in the Riverbend, there is a “conditional use” at issue in those locations, which provides additional leverage for the neighborhood association.
But it was also noted that, once the moratorium on new alcohol licenses expires, the neighborhood association will have no input at all on the alcohol license issue or on what sort of other business might occupy the space (unless there is a parking variance issue). Some observed that, in the present instance, we at least have a developer who is cooperative.
Ms. Winters promised to get back to us with further details as soon as her arrangements for acquiring the property are finalized.
In other matters: Cindy Morse announced that Johnson Elementary School is planning a Water Quality Exhibit Day involving 4thgraders. Time, place and details to follow.
Frat House bar—Several neighbors who live in proximity to the Frat House bar at Willow and Dublin expressed serious concerns about numerous incidents involving noise, vandalism and other inappropriate late-night behavior in the vicinity of the bar. It was recommended that a group of neighbors meet with the bar owner to discuss the issues, and such a meeting is being organized.
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From AA:
The purpose of this alert is to make us more aware of the what’s happening around us, as well as to notice trends. Please remember to promptly call in suspicious activities to NOPD.
At approximately 1pm on Sat 5/9/2009, a resident of Uptown was on his way back to Orleans Parish via Jefferson Highway and was near Oschner Hospital when an ambulance approached. He pull over to the side, but two other cars did not, skirting ahead and nearly causing an accident. After the ambulance passed, the Uptown resident continued on and an interaction with one of the aggressive driver took place. The aggressive driver rolled down the tinted window of a Black Ford Expedition, license #LA OGW-409, and began to yell obscenities and racial slurs. As the argument escalated, this aggressive driver pointed a pistol at the Uptown resident.
The Uptown resident pulled away quickly and called 911. He stopped at Leonidas/Oak and waited for police to meet him, but said that after 45 minutes, no one came. (It is unclear whether the resident was waiting for NOPD or Jefferson Parish police.)
This incident will be reported to Jefferson Parish police, as well as the Louisiana State police. It points to a problem several residents of Carollton-Riverbend have experienced when calling 911 near the Jefferson/Orleans parish border.
I want to direct you to information emailed from the Orleans Parish 911 call center about this issue. It is below. I apologize for the length of this email, but felt it was important to include.
———
From: Karl Fasold, System Manager for Orleans Parish Communication District
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009
(website is: http://www.911nola.org)
I’m the System Manager for Orleans Parish Communication District, the agency responsible for providing 911 services to Orleans Parish.
The routing of cellular 911 calls is as much an art as a science; each cell sector on a particular tower must be assigned to a particular 911 center. These assignments are based upon the majority jurisdiction of the area covered by the cell tower, and inevitably results in misrouted 911 calls. To handle this eventuality, all 911 centers have the ability to instantly transfer 911 calls, including all 911 data, to the appropriate 911 center. Once the call is received at the appropriate center, it should be handled as any other 911 call.
In order to research the specific issues and determine why no one responded, I need the following information:
Date(s) and time(s) of the calls to 911.
Telephone number making the call. Cell carrier for the phone would be helpful as well.
Location the call(s) were made from.
Once we can research the calls, we’ll work with the cell carriers and determine if any tower homing changes are needed. We’ll examine our workflow and determine if any changes are appropriate, and discuss the matter with the JP 911 center.
Karl Fasold
System Manager
Orleans Parish Communication District
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Leonidas House rendering
That’s right, it is this Sunday from 1:30 PM till 4:40 PM at Leonidas House, the corner of Willow and Leonidas. Tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased online. Can’t come? Buy a ticket anyway and help this very worthy cause. Here’s a link to a YouTube video that tells you a little about the project.
Event info:
Come join us for an afternoon of Jazz, Art and Community Building!
This is the first fundraiser for the Leonidas House Community Center, all proceeds will go toward the renovation of our historic building. Come be inspired by the beaded board walls and ceilings (as well as other architecturals) that we’ve uncovered thus far. You will be able to purchase artifacts from the building as well as unique “one of a kind” pieces of local art provided by United for Peace New Orleans.
Mimosas and Hors d’Oeuvres.
If you have questions, or would like to sponsor this event, or want to donate food, champagne, etc., please contact Tilman @ 504.237.9556 or tilmanhardy@kw.com
Hope to see you there!
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Large scale commercial urban farming is about to begin in Detroit, a city with more vacant city blocks than Our Fair City even has.
The just announced proposal would use 70 acres on Detroit’s lower east side for the first venture, which would aim to grow fruits and vegetables. While few details are available other information released by the developer/farmer, the Hantz Group, envisions plots with a variety of produce (even Christmas trees), windmills for electrical power and horse riding and hiking/running trails. Many jobs would be created.
Difficult details include land assemblage and costs.
Article links: Detroit Free Press, Detroit News
The blog I found this on in the first place: Detroit Army
Maybe this is something that has potential here in the City of NO. No?
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Originally uploaded by nola-shiva.
Even though it may not look like it.
The sidewalks are open, so please continue to support Oak Street merchants. So you have to park a little further away. So what? You probably need the exercise.
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Friends and Neighbors:
A few quick notes on things happening in the neighborhood—or relevant to the neighborhood.
Community Crime and Safety Forum— The Central Carrollton Association is hosting this event this Thursday evening, March 19, with District Attorney Leon Cannizarro and NOPD Second District Commander Bruce Little as featured speakers.
Place: St. Matthew’s United Church of Christ, 1333 S. Carrollton, corner of Willow
Time: 6:00 Registration and refreshments; 6:30 – 8:00 Program
Free and open to the public.
Orleans Parish School Board “Stakeholders’ Forum”—Also Thursday, March 19.
Place: Lindy Boggs Conference Center, Room 152, CERM Building, 2045 Lakeshore Dr. (this is one of the relatively new buildings at the lake end of Elysian Fields, part of the UNO campus).
Time: 4:30-6:30
Purpose: “to allow education leaders, advocates and stakeholders the opportunity to share their opinions and ideas for sustaining progress in public education within Orleans Parish.”
Harrell Park PLAYGROUND CONSTRUCTION
When: Saturday, April 18, 8 a.m. until
Where: Harrell Park, Leonidas near the corner of Claiborne
Yes, this is still a while in the future, but mark your calendars. An opportunity for some hands-on contribution to the improvement of the neighborhood. Sponsors include the Allstate Foundation, the Injury Free Coalition for Kids, and Operation Kids. For more information, contact: Pastor Stanford Williams, (504) 394-4752 or swilliamsii@msn.com or Tilman Hardy, (504) 237-9556 or tilmanhardy@kw.com
OAK STREET
As you have doubtless noticed, the MAJOR renovation of Oak Street has begun. The merchants on the street are still there and struggling to survive this enormous disruption. Please do what you can to continue to patronize and support them during this activity. The sidewalks are still open—and it’s quite a sight! Each two block section is supposed to take about two months to complete. If all goes well, the street should be totally transformed around Thanksgiving.
And we, your neighborhood association, are also still here. And we’re still looking for folks who want to get involved and help out. There are lots of things we MIGHT be doing, but they all require volunteers. The “mights” include everything from cataloguing blighted properties in the neighborhood to helping with a “Carrollton in Bloom” project that has been suggested by our sister organization, the Palmer Park Neighborhood Association. See a British model. Or maybe you have your own ideas. If so, I’d be please to hear them.
And we are seriously looking for new people to serve on the organization’s board. If you’re interested, or just have questions about it, let’s talk.
Happy Spring!
Jerry Speir, President
Carrollton/Riverbend Neighborhood Assoc.
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CRNA Board Meeting – Minutes
March 12, 2009
Attending—Board: Pax Bobrow, Gordon Cagnolatti, Betty DiMarco, Rudolf Garrison, Marshall Hevron, Llewelyn Soniat, Jerry Speir, Jim Stratton, and Betsy Weymann
Absent Board Members: Marilyn Barbera , Kevin Brown, Rodney Dionisio, Tilman Hardy, Todd Leavitt, Judith Miranti, Julianna Padgett, Gary Smith, Amanda Smithson,
Residents/Guests: Mary DeWitt Dukes, Camilla Franklin, Celia Griffin, Cindy Morse, and Robbie Roberson
LEONIDAS HOUSE
Jerry circulated copies of renderings of a possible renovation of the Leonidas House property. Volunteer work days on the property, at Leonidas and Willow, have made progress on internal clean-up. More will be organized soon.
Anyone interested in helping with the project should contact Tilman Hardy at tilmanhardy@kw.com
CRIME/SAFETY
Mary reported on activities of the Crime Committee and the Carrollton Area Network (CAN) Crime Collaborative.
–Mary is working on developing a handbook and/or guidelines for use by area leaders within the neighborhood (something like “block captains” but for areas larger than blocks)
–There is a consensus within the groups that the crime data we get from NOPD is less than complete and less timely than it might be. Mary and Alice-Anne are scheduling a meeting with Major Little (2d District Commander) to discuss ways that this might be improved.
–An individual in the French Quarter has developed a system for prompt text-messaging of crimes as they occur to persons who opt into the system. State Rep. Walker Hines has recently been talking about introducing a bill for state funding of a pilot program city-wide that would model that program.
–The group will continue to arrange “porch parties” on the last Saturday of each month. The next one will be in 900 block of Joliet on March 28.
–Central Carrollton Assoc. is hosting a “Neighborhood Safety” forum on Thursday, March 19, featuring Major Little and DA Leon Cannizarro, at St. Matthew United Church of Christ, 1333 S. Carrollton, corner of Willow. Refreshments will be served at 6:00, with the program running from 6:30-8:00.
–Questions were raised about crime cameras in the neighborhood. To our knowledge, no publically-funded cameras are functioning within the neighborhood. Private cameras can be installed fairly cheaply, and the Oak Street Association has several functioning on Oak Street. Betsy noted that some cities have systems allowing citizens to send photos of crimes-in-progress, suspicious persons and the like via their cell phones directly to the police.
MAYORAL CANDIDATES
Betty reported on attendance at a recent mayoral forum where Rob Couhig was the featured guest. He focused on three things he said were needed to make the city work: (1) making the city livable (safer, less blight, etc.), (2) making the city affordable (no new property taxes, helping to reduce insurance and utility rates), and (3) developing economic opportunities (concentrating on higher education, health care, construction, natural resources and the port).
NEIGHBORHOOD CENSUS
Pax reported on a meeting with folks from the Delgado Service Learning Program. They are interested in the possibilities of helping with a neighborhood census/needs assessment, and are applying for a federal grant that might assist such an effort. But they say they are interested whether they get the grant or not. Pax will continue to follow up with them.
ORGANIZATION BUILDING
The remainder of the meeting was spent discussing ways to make our organization more effective, to involve more people, etc. Among the suggestions:
–Attendance by the City Councilperson would attract more people to meetings. (She has come when invited.) But major speakers can also detract from doing the business of the organization.
–What’s the function of the organization? If we get more people to meetings, what are we telling them or what are we asking them to do?
–To a degree, we function as a “watchdog,” especially on zoning related issues, and our level of activity tends to ebb and flow with the rise and fall of critical issues.
–Many people see us as a connection to “the powers that be,” providing a service, getting our local voices heard.
–We also function as a forum within which individuals’ ideas/talents can be realized (e.g., our newsletter). We’re not a “make everything happen” organization. We are individuals and volunteers, working together.
–Our mission is not a focused one, but (somewhat necessarily) nebulous. We facilitate/support projects that individuals/volunteers are able to take on.
–It would be nice, for example, to have someone to lead an effort to find out all we can about blighted housing in the neighborhood and blighted housing programs in the city, about streets and whether we’re getting our fair share of street repairs, about drainage issues, etc., etc. but any of these ideas require an individual to step forward to lead the effort. How to attract/encourage them?
–We might attract more participants simply with better signage in coffee shops, stores, churches, etc. Public “suggestion boxes” might also be an effective outreach tool. (The latter was Pax’s idea, which she agreed to execute.)
–Organizations like ours only work because people are drawn to them for some (generally) self-interested reason; and they have to be fun.
–Some organizations, in other cities, do things like annual street theatre or “circus” projects to attract attention and “get the word out.”
–Treasurer’s report (from Cindy) shows we have about $3000 in the bank. We might use that for a general mailing that would reach every household, but the issue would still be what, exactly, are we reporting and/or inviting people to.
–We need to be more connected to the other organizations in our area—Palmer Park, Pension Town, Oak Street.
–We could make better use of the universities. If we had a list of discrete projects, we could get support from professors and service learning personnel.
ANNUAL MEETING
We need to have an annual meeting and to elect new board members. James Carville was suggested as a possible speaker who would attract attendance. Betsy agreed to work on contacting him. Betty, Julianna, and Jerry will continue to serve as Nominating Committee to propose new board members.
NEXT MEETING: Thursday, April 9. Place – TBD.
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Carrollton-Riverbend Neighborhood Association (CRNA) 