RECENT COMMENTS
Seventh District Meeting @ Mt.Carmel
Seventh District Representative and Council VP Delores McQuinn hosted a lively but sparsely attended meeting this morning at Mt.Carmel Baptist Church. Kristen Heckman and Pam Jones of Fulton Hill Properties gave an update on the proposed Oakwood Heights development, McQuinn gave updates on some upcoming events, and the community voiced concerns and shared information.
Oakwood Heights
First up were Kristen Heckman and Pam Jones of Fulton Hill Properties speaking on the proposed Oakwood Heights development. The project has been put into the hands of new architects out of Charlottesville, Hays and Ewing. The speakers presented a description of their rough working design, the final version of which should be ready by June.
Hechman offers that the redesign aims to address the concerns of the neighborhood. In contrast to the earlier proposal, the new design does not require a retaining wall and so less disturbs the site. There will be a public plaza at end of alley at bluff. Parking is still contained within project, but the traffic flow should now be more consistent with that of a typical city block. The site will incorporate rain gardens and storm water management towards being self-sustaining.
The plan is still at the same density, just over 30 units. In addition, FHP would still like to move the house at 3626 East Broad Street, calling it “not structurally sound”. Representatives from the community voiced concerns about the compatability and density of the project.
Comment below or directly to Fulton Hill Properties at oakwood@fultonhillproperties.com.
Other Issues / Upcoming
- BHC wants to develop at Beckstoffer’s. A community meeting on this will be announced soon.
- Master Gardening programming at EDI. To help residents. To be voted on in the next couple of weeks. There will be 50 slots available. “Will be a model for the city.”
- Rezoning Thur May 22nd @ EDI 6PM, Dept. of Comunity Development. Present zoning allows for development not consistent with master plan.
- Lumpkins Slave Jail 2nd Phase – June 3 10:30AM
Community Concerns
- It sounds like there are some hellacious little kids running around 35rd Street, throwing rocks at peoples’ dogs and at older ladies’ doors.
- McQinn: “I am not in support of closing Bellevue. I am a supportor of community schools.”
- Folks are saying that the Mt.Carmel Baptist Church building is for sale for $1.5-2.5 million.
- There used to be community events in Chimborazo Park like gospel choirs. What can we do to bring back more comunity events?
- Utilities don’t seem to be properly fixing the roads that they tear up.
McQuinn, I’ll let the folk at Bellevue know. Thank you.
Although people have a right to speak their minds and express their opinions some go to far. It was embarressing when some of the attendees who have objections to the condo project behaved poorly during the meeting. Making faces and being rude accomplishes nothing. Delores, at one point, felt the need plea for above to be more respectful. Yuk
I wasn’t at the meeting…so Delores said yes because of pressure from the folk making faces and rude comments?
I disagree, Lisa, I was at the meeting and I do not think any of the attendees misbehaved at all.
I was the one who brought up Bellevue. Ms. McQuinn definitely does not support closing this school. She also indicated that historic tax credits could be used to make the renovations to the property, so the idea that closing the school would save the city money is really out of touch. Her son J J talked to me after the meeting and would like to organize a community rally for the school.
Couple things….
Gray, I don’t understand your question. “Delores said yes” to what?
I too was at the meeting and the FHP folks also said that they anticipate the prices to be $225-300K / condo.
The discussion about the soundness of the existing house was pretty confusing but it seemed to me that they were trying to say that it was currently sound, but that it should have some structural improvements AND that it was too unsound to move it.
I would chalk up the ‘behavior’ to passion. Some of the folks present were very committed to ensuring their concerns are heard [and seen ;-)].
In the end there really wasn’t much to FHP’s presentation. They basically said, “We heard your concerns. We’re redesigning everything to try to address them. We still want to move the house. We still want the 31-33 unit density.” There’s really not much to discuss until they complete their next design in June.
One notable thing about that did occur. Delores told the FHP reps that she expected them to provide her and the attendees with copies of the new design when it is complete and said that she expected Elizabeth (I guess the project’s manager) would not have any problems with that.
What Delores said about the house they want to move is that the foundation is in poor condition but they have shored it up for the time being but it’s only a temporary fix. Regarding ‘faces’….. passion is one thing … being downright rude is another.
lisa
You have to understand, this is the 3rd or 4th time we’ve heard the same things from them. Nothing has changed other than the proposed development seems to be going greener which, when construction actually starts, could very well be scrapped if money becomes an issue.
If the block were indeed a finished block, I don’t think many of us would have such an issue with the proposed development as it is. But right now, they are adding 33-66 extra cars on 2 very dead end streets.
I agree with Beth. Rev. McQuinn has always supported neighborhood schools. She stated over and over again that she does not support the closing of Bellevue. Reggie Malone wanted to close Bellevue when he was on the school board.