what is the state of the cdc? i saw scott page yesterday and he asked me this question. i didnt have much to say. i found myself frustrated in the end cause i want the the cdc to do.......something. it seems that sense the board debacle the cdc hasnt been able to get on their feet. westrum has a blanketed approval for all development. there is a community computer lab sitting empty without any summer kids. a neighborhood plan that sits somewhere and is filled with amazing suggestions. rents, taxes, real estate is going up. lots of sales activity. overall, lots of interest with no central meeting point for discussion. small development spurring up all over the place without any guidance. this neighborhood needs a cdc more then ever right now. if the current people cant get their dogs in a row how can we fix/change the situation.

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www.rob-sutherland.com

There is guidance. Developers looking for zoning variance support go through the Brewerytown Sharswood Civic Association. We cover 33rd to Ridge from Girard to Cecil B Moore.

We have met every month, short of sumer break, for several years. We get between 30-50 residents a month at our meetings. Always looking for more.

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so if the BSCA picked up the ball do we need a Btown CDC? are we going to see letters from the new CDC board saying don't recognize the BSCA?

adam- what's up with the 1200 block N. 26th st development? it seems like they went ahead with facade improvements? what is next?

if i wasnt so busy with my roof i would had come last night.

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www.rob-sutherland.com

We didn't "pick upt he ball". Developers have been going to us for years.

Non-profit Civic Associations and non-profit Community Development Corps have different purposes.

CDCs are typically designed to create jobs and housing in their neighborhood for revitalization.

Civic Associations are designed more for community input for quality of life issues and growth of the community. Registered Civic Associations are representatives of a community.


A neighborhood does typically have both organizations. Fairmount has a Civic Association and a CDC. Their CDC tends to go after grant and government money to do development improvements like streetscapes, plantings, etc. (They do more than that, I am keeping it simple.)

So, one is not better than the other. They each have different purposes. The Civic Association is the neighborhood group representative of the residents. A CDC is a group that is geared to the specific task gathering funding and doing projects to spur revitalization, in a non-profit manner.


As an example of last nights CA meeting, we had Mr. Whitlock, board member of the Progress Plaza holding comapny and he came and detailed the whole plan for the new grocery store and retail at Progress Plaza. Another speaker was a lady discussing her plan for twelve new condos at 20th and S. College Ave. We also had Captain Wilson of the 23rd precinct telling us the crime statistics for our neighborhood and how they have changed over the last year as well as other activity information. They all were available for questions. Then, we have open forum at the end of other issues residents bring up. Every meeting we have at least one developer pitching a project and looking for a letter of support for the ZBA. If we don't approve, we say why and either they fix or we send a letter saying we do not approve and then it is up to the ZBA.

As for the construction on 26th St., we had them come back a second time before we signed off because we had concerns. In particular, I made sure they supplied the brownfield study to make sure reclamation was handled appropriately. They came back with all requested information, better drawings and changes we were concerned about. We then supplied a letter of support after we were comfortable with it.

Like I said, the BSCCA has been around for years (I think over 7). Ever since I moved to the neighborhood, I have been to 90% of the meetings. It is a great meeting to find out what is going on in the neighborhood (from food shares, to summer camps, to activities at the rec center, to development, to lot cleaning programs, etc.).

Hell, our biggest success story is getting the pool at 26th and Jefferson completely rebuilt. Our neighborhood will now have one of the best public pools in the City. 4 feet deep, Olympic size with a slide tube and sprinkle area.

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big up yourself!!!! that is mad water fun!!!!

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www.rob-sutherland.com