Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Assn.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Revitalize

Aug 02, 2000

by Kiersten Crane

Last summer a grassroots team of individual neighbors and business representatives along 42nd Avenue joined forces in an effort to revitalize a deteriorating backbone within our neighborhood: 42nd Avenue from Prescott to Holman. This grassroots organization has worked hard and fast to become a well-known team of proponents for revitalization. Through the efforts of many individuals and the support of St. Charles Church and Central Northeast Neighbors, the revitalization team was awarded a grant last winter by the Bureau of Housing and Community Development. This grant has allowed the team to hire an experienced and motivated coordinator, Sandra Lefrancois, the former coordinator of the highly successful Alberta Street revitalization.
The last few months have been busy and very productive for the 42nd Avenue Revitalization Team! Survey responses from neighbors and businesses were received and analyzed, two open workshop forums were held and hundreds of great ideas were brought to the table. The three major goals identified were:
1. Improve the physical condition and appearance of the streetscape and improve pedestrian amenities.
2. Promote a viable neighborhood-serving business district.
3. Provide community gathering area(s) for all groups.
The Vision Plan Workgroup meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. and the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Both monthly meetings are held at St. Charles Church. This workgroup focuses on setting and implementing an action plan to revitalize 42nd Avenue. The goals of the action plan will be based on the goals previously expressed by the neighborhood and are expected to be achieved over the next year to three years.
Other workgroups are actively working on several projects including; issuing a quarterly newsletter along 42nd Avenue, evaluating the desire for a business association and implementing a variety of tactics to clean up the avenue. General meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at St. Charles Church. Please join us as we achieve Revitalization of 42nd Avenue!