CITY COUNCILMAN BENSON KIRKMAN
Councilman Kirkman dropped by the BHA meeting. Kirkman updated neighbors on various downtown projects and initiatives including rennovation of the old railroad Depot, the Cabarrus Street Streetscape, the potential widening of Lake Wheeler Road, the proposed new convention center and nascent efforts to revitalize the area east and south of Boylan Heights.
Kirkman also took questions from the gathering including why there seem to be so few bike racks downtown.
POLICE REPORT
Captain Dennis Poteat, the District 26 Commander, alerted neighbors that CANE, the Crime and Nuisance Enforcement, program would soon focus on Boylan Heights. The program is designed to sweep out crime in areas where police feel they're "losing the battle," Poteat said.
He warned that the sweep would appear quite aggressive if you've never seen this kind of operation before. Residents should make sure they're wearing their seat belt, carrying their driver's license and registration - and expect delays. People will be checked, he said.
Poteat said the department takes the interests of Boylan Heights neighbors seriously because neighbors are willing to help the police out.
Dawson Roark thanked the department for swift action recently when they stopped a thief from stealing his truck outside his house on Dorothea Drive.
Chris Weedy asked that Poteat look into suspicions that residents at 501 Cutler are selling drugs from the house.
ACTION POINT:
As summer approaches, Poteat warned BH neighbors to keep their lawnmowers and bikes locked up. And watch for a particular scam common in Five Points. It goes like this: someone comes by looking for a lost dog. They keep you busy in the front yard while their accomplice enters your house from the back. If you're working in the front yard, keep the back door locked, he said. If you're working in the back, keep the front door locked.
DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT
The Demolition by Neglect committee recommended two houses for consideration: 705 Florence and 501 Cutler.
Participants at the meeting voted to submit 501 Cutler to the city's historic district commission for consideration as a candidate for demolition by neglect.
The designation simply means that a house has fallen into such a severe state of disrepair that it threatens to be destroyed by neglect. It does not mean the city will raze the house.
If city officials select the house from others submitted by neighbors in Oakwood and Mordecai, they would notify the owner of the disrepair and seek a plan to fix it.
Chuck Doppler tried to notify the owners of both houses to tell them their houses were under consideration by the association. One homeowner did not reply and another letter was returned as undeliverable.
A new BH resident, Katie Dugan, told Chuck that the house at 705 Florence was recently bought and is undergoing repair.
There was considerable discussion about 912 W. Cabarrus, a house formerly identified by the association as a possible candidate for demolition by neglect. Since last year, significant work has been done on the house as well as other properties that were submitted to the Raleigh Historic Districts for consideration under the Demolition by Neglect program. However, Chris Weedy and Jimmy Creech were concerned that work has been stalled for quite some time.
ACTION POINT:
Chuck Doppler will notify the owner of 501 Cutler that the house will be submitted to city officials for the DBN program.
Paul Meyer, BHA president, suggested that the association could write letters to all owners of properties that have been submitted to the Raleigh Historic Districts Commission for consideration under the DBN program to recognize the improvements that have been made since last year and inquire about the future improvement plans. The Association agreed and the letters will be sent.
A MID-SUMMER NIGHT'S BLOCK PARTY
Mark your calendars: Sunday, July 20 4-8pm. The association agreed to host a mid-summer's eve block party with all the fixins - grilled food, including veggie burgers, booze and a "street-by-street" potluck. The dish you bring to share depends on where you live. Stay tuned for more details.
Tentative plans call for the picnic to be held at the Dupont Circle park, at the north entrance of the neighborhood, and the side street. Expect live music from a cast of talented BH performers and possibly T-shirts.
ACTION POINT:
A party committee made up of Paul Meyer and Caron Register, Dana Damico, Lea and Dawson, Chris Weedy and Katie plans to start meeting to make the event happen.