Downtown Market Continues

The Downtown Market is still going on, thanks to Lance Hardcastle (Jefferons Drive resident) & Susie Watson... please support their efforts to keep a market within walking distance of WECAN and read more here.

WECAN September 2011 Board Meeting Minutes • Draft

WECAN Board Meeting on Thursday September 1, 2011 at Merritt Park Meeting Room

Members present: Byron Ballard, Jeff Carnivale, Joe Fioccola, Bret Frk, AnnaBeth Hardcastle, Yuri Koslen, Luke W. Perry, and Pattiy TornoMembers not present were: Jessie Coleman, Tom Gibson, Mike Kenton, Geraldine Melendez,  Jose Ruiz.

Also present were APD Officer Evan Coward, Marsha Stickford, Tara Irby, Dwayne Burton, Olufemi Lewis and  Torin Kexel.

Pattiy called the meeting to order at 6:30. After introductions the August meeting minutes were approved as distributed. Rah! to APD Officer Evan Coward who finished first in his age group(under 30) in the Police Mountain Bike Association Congress. Officer Leslie Torgow finished second in her age group (30-39)

Hillcrest Walkover Bridge: Marsha reported that an encroachment agreement between the City, Progress Energy and DOT has been signed opening the way for further clearing out of brush and under growth along the steps to the Hillcrest Walkover bridge. and along the fences. Some trees will be removed on recommendation from the city arborist. Patiy suggested all that merely limbing trees up to six feet was very effective at Aston Park. Should be completed by the end of October. Lighting should be sooner. Luke asked about picking up trash there. Marsha suggested talking to Susan Roderick with Asheville Greenworks  to coordinate volunteers and supplies. Marsha can help with Liability waivers and sanitation pick ups. Luke suggested having a cook out afterwards. A date for the cleanup will be set in October. Discussion of how Hillcrest can be more involved in cleaning up the area. Luke wants to push for Hillcrest to be more involved. Olufemi advised they are dealing with issues on their side about the presence of cameras and outreach to new residents. She observed that everyone has their own bubble of what they consider their safety zone –whether an apartment in Hillcrest or a house in WECAN.  The gate appears to be closing between 8 and 9 p.m. She also announced upcoming classes at Hillcrest. An 8 week workshop conducted by ‘Just Economics’ would begin on September 27. Residents of all neighborhoods are welcome to attend.

The City version of National Night Out  called “Night to Unite” will be on Saturday October 1^st at MLK Park from 4-7 p.m. All Community Resource Officers will attend and have tables set up with information about services available, food and fun and games for the kids.

Marsha reported on the Depot Street Parking Plan an outcome of the ‘Between the Bridges” meetings was a need for more parking on Depot St. Two alternate plans have been suggested. Plan A has 28 parking spaces and Plan B has 41 with new sidewalk on the east side and a crosswalk about halfway down. She passed around a copy of the plans which were hard to read. Once the plans are fully fleshed out there will be a community meeting with enlarged drawings.

The D.O.T Contact Committee has not met yet

Marsha is on the Kudzu on Jefferson Dr  growing over a hydrant, street light, no parking sign and guard rail. Bret suggested posting points on GoogleMaps to show DOT or city crews exact locations of homeless camps and overgrown kudzu.   

Block Captain Sub-Committee. Yuri passed around a map and anticipates  about 5 block captains will be needed to cover 15 to 25 addresses each. Still some flexibility in arranging the ‘blocks.’ The goal is improving communications and community watch.  Pattiy will attach maps of the different blocks to the next WECAN News Flash. Yuri will bring markers and maps to the next meeting.

By-Laws Sub Committee- Joe and Anna Beth met to review the WECAN By-Laws and update them to reflect what we actually do. 1) Where ‘written notice’ of meetings was satisfactory in 1997, most neighbors now have email so ‘electronic’ notices should be as good as written. 2) Officers do serve for more than 2 one year terms so if they are willing they should be re-newable each year. 3) Proposed alterations must go out with notice of the meeting to consider their adoption.4) Yuri suggested that the geographic description of the WECAN boundaries be described verbally rather that by reference to the (expired) ‘2010 City Plan.” Also that the chair may designate al alternate to conduct meetings when the chair and vice chair are both unable to preside. AnnaBeth will email final draft to Pattiy by Sept 30 to be published in the WECAN News notice of the General Membership meeting on November 3.

Tara Irby from the Sustainable Communities Initiative explained what that groups goals are. Project Manager is Jeff Stoddinger and the city has received a Federal planning grant of $850,000 to collaborate with DOT, EPA, HUD to promote live-ability and efficiency and find out what the needs of residents and business owners are in areas of affordable housing, transportation choices, building on infrastructure, connectivity, leveraging resources, valuing communities. To build on communities rather than wipe out communities (unlike the results of urban renewal initiatives in the 1960’s and 1970’s) Citizen participation: hearing what is important and needed in communities from Southside, S French Broad, Livingston, Walton to WECAN and Hillcrest.  The ‘Between the Bridges’ meetings of stakeholders were the first steps. It is a federal requirement to make a good faith effort and take it seriously. They are not revisiting ‘Urban Renewal.” Talking about “messaging,”’ interviewing stakeholders and getting “buy in.” The TENTATIVE kick-off was proposed for Thursday October 6  from 4:30-9 p.m. at either the Reid center or Livingston Center.  Lively discussion about this conflicting with our regular Board meeting date ensued. The main point being that since WECAN is reputed to be among the most organized neighborhoods in the city it is insulting, irresponsible and disrespectful to set that date for the kick-off that is supposed to be about community participation. A secondary point was to add to the planning process the skills and talents of community members such as urban planners, designers, architects and artists who actually live in the community. For avoiding conflicts in future it was noted that Kendra Turner in the Office of the City Manager has a comprehensive calendar of all public community meetings.  Tara advised she would take our concerns to her group’s next planning meeting.

Pattiy asked if there were any concerns about the Silver Dollar closing and a new restaurant opening soon that will be open for breakfast lunch and dinner. Except for more expensive food it was generally considered a plus rather than a minus. She will invite the new owners to our next meeting and ask for a menu.

AnnaBeth gave a follow up report on  the Downtown Market that a collective was formed; They have downsized(only the Café and Grocery are still open.) and they had a good write up in the Citizen times. Ready for the next step after some good discussions with the bank. Once there is an agreement there will be a grand opening.  

Clingman Streetscape schedule was published in the meeting notice and is copied at the end of these minutes.:

Pattiy reported that Clingman Lofts requested money to plant a garden. She advised them that our treasury was almost bare. She will ask them to come to a future meeting and make a proposal of where and what they want to plant and what their plan is. They may be able to use our 501©3 status to write a grant.  

Pattiy began discussion of the use of our email lists which was posed on g-mail She volunteered to draft criteria for ethical use of email, face0book, web-pages, Blogs, etc.

Adopt a Highway date set for Tuesday September 19 at 5 p.m meet at the Sign Corner..

Yuri announced  that ‘Get There Asheville’ was having a City Council Candidates’ Transportation Forum at the Clingman Café on Thursday September 22 from 6-7 p.m.

Meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola.

***************************************************************************************

From Mason Sexton, project manager for Moore & Sons : mason@mooreandson.net

Here is the tentative schedule for Clingman Avenue.  This is hard to schedule what gets done when because a lot of this is done simultaneously or immediately following removal.  There is also the unknown of the gas line and the proposed storm drainage.

Saw Cut Asphalt & Concrete                                                       09/19/11                              2 Days

Install Storm Drainage                                                                    09/21/11                              3 Days  

Remove Concrete & Asphalt                                                       09/26/11                              On Going Estimate 4 Weeks

Replace Concrete Curbing, Aprons & Walks                         09/26/11                              On Going Estimate 4 Weeks

Relocate Meters                                                                              09/26/11                              4 Days

Relocate Cleanouts                                                                         09/26/11                              2 Days  

Paving                                                                                                   11/07/11                              2 Days  

Striping                                                                                                 11/10/11                              2 Days  

Landscaping                                                                                       11/14/11                              3 Days

Estimate completion date of November 17, 2011 weather permitting with a September 19, 2011 start.  We were ready to start back on August 8, 2011, but based upon the WECAN meetings and complaints about starting we moved another project up so we wouldn’t have to start and stop on Clingman.  We may be back and ready to start on September 12, 2011 but I am not sure due to the rain events and additional work on the other project.

 Thanks,  

Mason Sexton Project Manager Moore & Son Site Contractors, Inc. 103 McDowell Road Mills River, NC 28759

828-891-8900 Ext. 103 828-891-8011 FAX 828-243-0986 Cell

Silver Dollar to The Asheville Public

The Silver Dollar is closing after 70 years serving food in the neighborhood.  The Asheville Public is slated to come to life in its old location.  This bringing up many issues that may be on interest and concern to WECAN so please know this will be a topic of discussion at our next meeting, September 1, 2011 @ 6:30pm @ 64 Clingman Avenue in MHO's Jessie Nell Coleman Community Room.

WECAN August 2011 Board Meeting Minutes • Draft

WECAN Board Meeting on Thursday August 4, 2011 at Merritt Park Meeting Room

Members present: Byron Ballard, Jeff Carnivale, Joe Fioccola, AnnaBeth Hardcastle, Mike Kenton, Yuri Koslen, Members not present were: Jessie Coleman, Bret Frk, Tom Gibson, Geraldine Melendez, Luke W. Perry, Jose Ruiz and Pattiy Torno.

Also present were:  Lance Hardcastle, Brad Smith, APD Officers Coward, Shelton, Loveless, and Stepp.

Yuri called the meeting to order at 6:36. After introductions the July meeting minutes were approved as distributed.

APD CRO update and questions:

            Homeless on DOT property: regarding the homeless camp between Park Ave and I240  while trash remains the camp is gone. Regarding a campsite behind the Phil mechanic Building it has been cleared and arrests were made.

Pedestrian Bridge:  Jackie reported that City sidewalks at the Hillcrest Walkover are overgrown. DOT will get  that done by November. Jackie relayed from Marsha that there are new LED lights on the Roberts St side and DOT will keep clear a ten foot strip on either side of the stairs leading to Roberts St. Also coming look for new markings for parking and possibly a new stop sign at Roberts and W Haywood by White Duck Taco.

Jackie announced that The City version of National Night Out will be on Saturday October 1^st at MLK Park from 4-7 pm (Rain Date Oct 8.) Hoping for improved attendance which has lately been poor at the “Official” date (First Tuesday in August.) Brad reported that “No Trespassing Signs which are posted on the Tennis Court side of the Ravine on the East of Clingman Ave. are not deterring people entering the area from the Merritt St. side.  Jackie assured us that posting every entrance is not necessary to enforce trespassing violations.

Jeff reported increased traffic on Jefferson Dr and that the dead end is overgrown with Kudzu it is hard to see suspicious activity or people sleeping in the road at the turnaround. Anna reported signs of activity such as condoms and litter and also reported that the fire hydrant at the dead end is completely hidden. The responsibility for maintaining the overgrowth may lie between the city and DOT.  

            The D.O.T Contact Committee has not met yet Anna Beth requested maps and more info of what are the issues and what areas are involved. Yuri suggested a brief brainstorming session to generate issues to start the conversation (such as maintenance of plantings/ground cover weeds; homeless camps, etc.) Mike advised that DOT can’t approve a community garden or any use involving people on their property due to liability issues. 

Garden Club July date was canceled next date set for Sunday August 21 at Owens Bell Park from 8 am to noon.

Clingman Streetscape has been adopted by Asheville Greenworks with support from Sitework Studios, Mail Management & CURVE studios & garden so far, with more RAD business chipping in thru a possible fundraiser in September 2011.

Neighborhood Watch Block Captains: Block Captain Sub-Committee has not met. Yuri passed around a map and requested suggestions for areas and prospective block captains.  Byron noted that West Asheville, a much larger neighborhood, was quickly and efficiently organized on line through face book to respond to their crime wave. He will send a request with a digital map attached before the next meeting.

Clingman Avenue Streetscape: Construction resumes this Monday August 8 on the upper half of Clingman Ave. starting on the lower end. The saw cut lines have already been set. Both lanes will not be closed at the same time. There should be communication between the construction Co and the residents. Brad requested an email schedule of the timeline. (Especially outages such as electric, gas, water and cable.) and residents want their shrubs undisturbed. A flyer of the timeline was suggested with a contact number for the project manager. Lance had heard some questions about the difficulty of cutting concrete and leaving sharp edges and the probability of having to re-pour.

Depot Street Parking Plan: working on a base map with marked parking along the railroad side and sidewalks and crosswalks to the five way.

Zoning Change for vacant lot north of Park Avenue on Club St.  It appears that it was inadvertently left off the latest zoning map. The proposal is to match it with adjacent zoning RM8.  The 0.27 acre parcel was sold by Urvana LLC to District Development LLC on 6/13/2011. It is unknown if there are any immediate plans to develop the site.

Downtown Market: First Bank was the sole bidder for the foreclosed property. They say they will honor existing leases for Amazing Savings and the two restaurants but may only offer 30 day leases.  Lance reported that there is 20,000 sq ft of unused air-conditioned  and heated safe walking distance space. He requested Ideas for potential uses. One idea mentioned was to provide a place for the itinerant food vendors like a food court. Other ideas are local retiree training in practical craft skills such as caning chairs, or making apple pies, or free school (Cabin Fever University) where the rent would be modest to zero. The central part of the building is where the majority of the space and energy are. He suggested a letter of support and ideas for usage showing community ties and support from WECAN, SFBN; DARN, ADA, Downtown Commission, AGCB and TWCA. to persuade the bank to sell. Also to use face book and blogs to promote support and ideas. An idea to get people into the space was an open house event like a cookout. Organizations to contact for small business incubator ideas include Mountain Bizworks, Advantage West, AB Tech, Handmade in America. Lance will send out a one paragraph write up about what is needed.

Flea Market Parking on Lyman St behind Paneling World cars may not park in the bicycle lane. Call in violations. They need to start getting the word out or vehicles will get ticketed and possibly towed. Byron will notify Jody with Short Street Cakes.

By-Laws- Joe and Anna Beth will meet to draft proposed changes to WECAN By-Laws.

Annual Meeting: November 3,2011 with potluck.

Meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m.

Water Issues @ 96 SFB

Hello everyone! I am so happy to be able to tell everyone that the City of Asheville has completed the repairs at 96 South French Broad, to prevent the storm drain water from creating a long standing pool. My mother has greatly enjoyed being able to sit out at night and enjoy the “neighborhood” again. I have had the pleasure of mowing grass and helping her get the yard back in order. I am so very grateful for all of the support we received, especially from Chad Nesbitt, the South French Broad Neighborhood Association, Gene Bell, Lonnnie Gilliam, Marcia Stickford, Shahab, Stephanie Twitty, Jeff Staudinger, and all of the City of Asheville employees that worked on my moms’ yard and made it happen. She said they were wonderful to her and kept her updated on the progress every day.  I also want to thank  all of the others in the neighborhood that worked so patiently and diligently to help us work with the City to get this resolved, and showed unwavering support for our cause. We honestly would have never been able to get this done without you. If I have left anyone off of this e-mail, please feel free to tell them that both my mother and I thank them and to stop by and enjoy the great work. I will try to post some before and after pictures later this week.

Angela Smith

ART @ WC REID Center

Thanks to the efforts of Cleaster Cotton, Art has arrived back @ WC Reid Center.  The past lack of arts programing was an item of concern from the surrounding neighbors @ several recent meetings around the future of the Reid Center.  Kudos to Ms. Cotton for making good things happen in our neighborhoods.

WECAN July 2011 Board Meeting Minutes • Draft

WECAN Board Meeting on Thursday July 7, 2011 at Merritt Park Meeting Room

Present:  Luke Perry, Mike Kenton, Pattiy Torno,  Yuri Koslen, Jessie Coleman. Members not present were: Bret Frk, Tom Gibson, Geraldine Melendez and Jose Ruiz, Byron Ballard, Jeff Carnivale, Joe Fioccola, AnnaBeth Hardcastle

Also present were: Officer Mata (in training), Officer Evan Coward, Officer Jackie Stepp, Marsha Stickford

Meeting began at 6:35 at the bus stop and then moved into the office when the door was unlocked.  Pattiy called the meeting to order at 6:33 The June minutes were approved as distributed.

APD CRO updates:  Concerns were raised about a permit for outdoor gathering at 233 riverside drive. Marsha suggested that if this property becomes a problem, then they should contact the city.  Evan will send on the owner’s information.

National Night Out.  Marsha said that they are not doing a night out this summer.  Last year’s event brought out a lot of law enforcement, but not a lot of community members.  This year’s event will take place at MLK park the first week of October, which is Crime Prevention Month.  If our neighborhood wants to do a National Night Out, the city will help us do it.  Pattiy described the past events, and discussed the pros and cons of holding an event or not.

DOT issues/Homeless Camps.  Kudzu is out of control at the entrance to Greenworks maintained space along the Interstate.  Marsha is talking with DOT about how to control it and deal with it.  Marsha said that DOT is going through some administrative changes.  Yuri discussed trying to clean out the trail and maybe make a nice entrance or something.

Luke asked about what the approach or stance is about dealing with homeless camps, and if they automatically trigger police action, if they are not bothering anyone.  Marsha said that it is complaint driven.  Evan thinks that property values have been helped because they have been aggressively cracking down.  Pattiy said that past experiences have shown that people camping around her property have been found with things that have been stolen.

Yuri suggested that the city take a more comprehensive approach.  Jackie said that the city has improved their stance, and instead of just arresting people, they are sending out teams to discuss services with people.   Luke added that some folks will never find themselves in permanent housing.

Some work is still going on around the Hillcrest pedestrian bridge.  While there are still lights out, DOT will not be adding additional lighting on the bridge.

Pattiy reported that the owners of the stockyard have worked out an agreement with MSD and has carved out a trail on west side of the river.  Pattiy noticed that there were already people camping on the trail and will follow up with stockyard owners about how to deal with homeless camps.

Luke asked about some traffic issues on Club St. related to cars speeding the wrong way and potential sex activity in cars.  Officer Coward asked to call about any suspicious vehicles.

Downtown Market.  Pattiy asked us to consider a letter asking the owners of 45 south French broad to consider other options besides foreclosing.  The motion passed and was approved.

Project Updates:

Asheville Mural Project did a great job doing a mural at Hillcrest.

Clingman Streetscape.   Marsha reported that there is a plan to improve the intersection of Hilliard and Clingman.

There has been concern about the maintenance of the new Clingman Streetscape project, especially related to the weeds.  Site Work Studios and Asheville Greenworks are going to hire a private contractor to do the weeding and maintenance of the landscaping of the street.  Marsha is looking at working with the city and DOT on some better maintenance.

WC Reid Center Grant. July 12, 6 pm. Next meeting

WECAN Garden Club.  Date was cancelled for this month, and will be revisited next month.

Annual Membership meeting.  First Thursday of November with potluck.  Luke is not bringing the banana pudding.

Owen’s Bell Park.  Pattiy reported that Mr. Bell would like to donate something to the Owen’s Bell park that would be of use to the neighborhood, and wanted to know what the neighbors would like.  Pattiy suggested for them to pursue things that the kids would use.

Announcements: Jessie Coleman was on the cover of Urban News.   Joshua Heetderk was featured in the Mountain Xpress.   The RAD restaurants were featured in Mountain Xpress.   Doors of Asheville event will be held Friday, September 9, 2011

Flea Market.  Pattiy asked if anyone had any opinions on its presence.  Friday July will be its first day and it will be every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Free camping has been advertised, which triggered some concern.

Meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.   Minutes submitted by Luke W. Perry