Intros of new board members

  • Michael Jaramillo will be replacing Randy Harris as treasurer
  • Dani Miltz joining as board member at large and education rep

ANNOUNCEMENTS

How voting works: after attending 2 meetings the 3rd you can vote.

Always looking for people to be more involved, safety, streets, schools, fundraising

AMLI Thank you for bringing wine, MOving in the Spirit for the space and Taco Cantina for the food

APD Update - Lt Gruen over Boulevard beat

Reduction in crime, getting close to solving vehicle crime, Citizens are doing a great job of reporting to 911.

What can be done with speeders on residential streets?  Can call and ask for direct patrol on your street.

Park Cannon state rep - Jan 18, 19, 25 & 29th kids can join and serve on the house on the floor.  Having the Mayor coming to speak. Serves on the sm. Business dev committee.

Jay Tribi works for Amir Farouk

Minutes for November approved

COMMITTEES AND REPS

  • Won 2 grants with $15k and going to paint some of the electrical boxes in the area.  
  • We need folks to help clean up the blocks!  Quarterly cleanups, next in March
  • Use 311!
  • Public Safety update:  Derrick Parker is our rep.
  • Fundraising - Photo Book, we want your input on ideas for fundraising, please help us.
  • Education
  • Maureen Wheeler, Hope Hill Principal 5 yrs.  20 yrs exp in Fulton county.  A change agent for turn around schools, have over 80 academic mentors coming into the shool.  We were the 3rd lowest schools and now off the focus list.  Have won accolades for attendance, grants from MailChimp, community tour.
  • #1 Goal is for Hope Hill to be a community school!  It should be the hub.  Hope Hill has been an underdog and she is changing it.  Want community to join the school, achievement is increasing, feels all teachers are good and qualified.  
  • With MLK rec center moving, it is next to Hope Hill and they could benefit from that space.  
  • Asking for people to donate meals/food to thank the teachers.  Please sign up with a dish or cash.  Also volunteers at school needed.
  • Open House 1/31 11 and 3:30
  • Social
  • Porch Party is at Bill Hallman 1/28 at 4-7
  • Freedom Park John Rose has stepped down.
  • HO4WP - Stil need volunteers

VOTING MATTERS

297 Sampson St Variance representing Jose Thompson.

  • Wants to build a home for personal use.  Have already reached out to adjacent neighbors.
  • Voting on side yards and reduce set back.  Motion passes 20+ votes

Walk in Her Shoes:  Global Poverty focus.  Hosting 3rd Annual Walk 3/3/18 expected ore 3500.  Have bike valet, no alcohol.  10-2 and 2 mile walk on beltline.  Motion passes

New City to review rezoning plan for the GA Power property plan.  Had a special meeting in December to introduce project.  Only voting on zoning.  

  • Sharon Gay working with New City on Zoning.  Asking to rezone properties to MRC3, same as PCM and 725 Ponce and much of th corner has been rezone like this.  Want to be a true mixed use with residential.  The city grant is separate for hotel and a different zoning approval.  Haven’t filed a case yet for the rezoning.  Also rezone for a small hotel.
  • Consideration for NuGrape and including them in the zoning process.  This is to consider whether to work together on this.  The zoning application is a completely different process than they negotiation of what the official plans are.  Not looking at impeding and impacting NuGrape.  New City wants to help NuGrape to rezone their property for free.  Height limitation is 225 feet which is same as industrial.  They are proposing to not maximize the height.
  • Will this impact utilities?  This space has prevented the normal through put of traffic and Dallas is very narrow due to some of this.  Would leave Dallas open for fire access and concert/event access.  Want it to be driveable but blocks during everyday activity.  
  • Want to build public areas with walking/biking and staircases.  The current design has been limited due to the GA Power site.  They want to open it up.
  • They will maintain access to park during all construction.
  • Proposing a deep hole to build parking underground.  Will build public easement and give back to park and will be at there cost.
  • It is difficult to convey complete design content with just the early renderings.  No intention of building anything typical of current Atlanta architecture.  
  • Clarify zoning for live/work?  They city has not allowed to zone specific to that.  This is currently being updated and fixed.  
  • Concern with overall rentals via ownership.  If trying to improve area, what is the amount of vested interest with a high level of rental.
  • ONe of the reasons that GA Power picked New City out of 28 bidders is how they proposed their project.  
  • Is there a way we can use parking for events and maybe earn some $$ for the neighborhood? Unequivocally YES, providing public/private space is part of the plan. Community building.
  • Voting to go from industrial to MRC3 motioned.  17 to separate the votes.  9 to combine.  Zoning motion to support Majority passes. 1 opposed.
  • For special use permit for hotel.  Motion to support Majority passes 1 opposed.