Feb. 20, 2008 at 12:34pm

Whitman Meeting Minutes

Here are the notes from last night's meeting - we didn't get to everything, but we tried...

Whitman Area Neighbors Meeting Notes – February 19, 2008

Meeting  Start time : 6:05 pm

Meeting End Time: 7:30 pm

Present at Meeting – 25

Guests: Marshall McLintock, Reuben McKnight

Note: Jan Gish, one of our Whitman regulars passed away just over a week ago.  She was very energetic and involved in her community.  She was just at our January meeting, asking what she could do to improve her neighborhood.  We will miss her – our thoughts are with her family.

Agenda item 1 –Community Cleanup

The community cleanup will take place on March 1, 2008, at 9:00 am.  Volunteers will meet in front of the school and then be sent to a cleanup area (we have 3 currently).  We will also have a pressure washing and paint crew painting graffiti and another crew will be doing curbside sweeping.  We will provide gloves and bags but will need flat shovels and brooms for the curbside cleanup.  A reminder e-mail will be sent.

Agenda item 2 – Grant meeting

The innovative grant meeting will happen the first week of March.  The committee will discuss potential projects from our project list created at the last meeting and decide on some that fit the grant criteria.  An e-mail will be sent to the group and all are invited to attend.

Agenda item 3 – Historic District

Much of the discussion centered around criteria and effects on the neighborhood.  Reuben gave an overview of what a historic district is from the zoning perspective.  He also discussed tax incentives and the other benefits of creating this district.  Reuben also mentioned that there is money available to assist in gathering data and history and putting together what data we already have collected. Marshall discussed changes in the North Slope Area, before and since the creation of the North Slope Historic District.  Currently, the proposed boundaries are 38^th to 43^rd and from Thompson to M Street.  There was discussion about expanding boundaries, as there have been several requests to do so.  However, it was suggested that we keep to our original boundaries and expand later if necessary.

Questions asked:

1)      Will this gentrify our neighborhood and price people out of an affordable area, since affordability is part of our neighborhood’s history?

2)      Vinyl windows vs wood – why?

3)      What is the design review process?  Would it apply to new structures?

4)      What is “grandfathered”

5)      Will St. Pauls’ church need to tear down addition built in 1960s?

The consensus seemed to be this was a good idea, as we all want to make sure this neighborhood retains its character.  Several examples were given of quality craftsman homes knocked down to build something else.  One home on J Street was being planned for demolition and a duplex was proposed.  The home was built in 1895.  The owner eventually decided to restore the home after requests from the neighbors.

Action items:

·         Set Up Meeting with Reuben to go over next steps

·         Consolidate neighborhood history (Dave and Chad)

Item 4 – Crime Issues

·         Note – In going over past meeting minutes, much of the crime in the area has been committed between 41^st street and 43^rd Street on J, K and L Streets.  This month was no different.

Crime Issues

·         Car theft on 43^rd & K Street and several break ins

·         Duplex on the corner of 42st and L Street.  Was the site of shots fired last month – continues to be lots of nuisance behavior.  WAN will attempt to contact owner of duplex.

·         Corner of 43^rd and K.  Home for developmentally disabled clients.  Reported that clients are often out, unattended.

·         4123 South K Street.  Continues to be lots of nuisance behavior and increased traffic in and out of the house. 

·         Tagging – Sur 13 gang tagged up the neighborhood, along 41^st street and at Whitman School

·         The BGM (Black Gangster Mafia) Gang has begun to mark our neighborhood as well – they have marked around the 43^rd and J Street area, but seem to come from 48^th street or so, according to their tags.  The graffiti was photographed and washed off..

 

comments [1]  |  posted under meeting, south end, whitman

Comments

by jenyum on 3/6/2008 @ 4:18pm

Hi Pat, I would like to talk to you about some neighborhood issues. Could you email me? tacoma mama at gmail dot com