Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association

Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association

Dignowity Hill Historict District Neighborhood Association

The Dignowity Hill Neigborhood Association meets on the 3rd Monday of every month(except in April, November and December because of Fiesta and the holidays)at 6:30 pm at Childress Memorial Church located at the corner of Hays and N Pine Streets.

The Neighborhood

Dignowity Hill is located on the near east side, 2 miles from downtown San Antonio. Found on the National Historic Registry of Neighborhoods, it is named for Anthony Michael Dignowity, a Czech-American writer, public official and medical doctor who was born in Kuttenburg, Bohemia in 1810.

Dignowity immigrated to the US in 1831. He came to San Antonio from Nachez, Mississippi with a group of volunteers for the Mexican War. Dr. Dignowity built this home, often called Harmony House, on a hillside with a fine view of downtown San Antonio. The land remains as present day Dignowity Park. Dignowity sold plots of the surrounding land with its fine breezes to his various well-heeled friends.Noted San Antonio families such as the Friedrichs, Elmendorfs, Lockwoods and Otts built homes in this area. According to the San Antonio Historic Society, the area was first settled as estates with one house per block in the 1850�s. The homes were typically two story, constructed of limestone and brick, and reflected the best designs of their time.

Dignowity Hill Historic District: within the boaundaries of the neighborhood association lies the Dignowity Hill Historic District. The district was established to preserve the unique cultural and historic character of the area.

Revitalization 

The neighborhood is currently experiencing a surge of revitilization as investors and property owners are restoring some of the grand old homes in the area. The neighborhood is centrally located with easy access to downtown San Antonio. St. Paul Square, the Alamodome, the Carver Cultural Center, restaurants and other attractions are easily accessible from the neighborhood.

 

Neighborhood Places and Events

The Parks

Dignowity Hill has two city maintained parks located next to each other. Dignowity Park, with its signature palm trees and Lockwood Park are great places for enjoying a grand view of downtown San Antonio, taking a walk or just visiting with neighbors. Lockwood Park is adjacent to Dignowity Park and has an outdoor basketball court with great views of downtown San Antonio.

 

 

Hays Street Bridge

Looking down Hays Street from Dignowity Hill one can glimpse the trusses of the iron Hays Street Bridge. The bridge originally carried narrow gauge trains across the wild swamps of the Atchafalaya River in Louisiana. The parts of the Whipplestyle bridge were moved to San Antonio between 1908 and 1910.The bridge is actually two different iron truss bridges linked together, a whipple and a phoenix style. Only five other Whipple-style bridges exist in Texas. The phoenix style is more common. There is ornate 19th Century scroll work in the upper corners of the trusses. The City of San Antonio named the bridge a historically significant landmark in 1982. Plans are to open it again to pedestrian and bike traffic providing an additional link between Eastside neighborhoods and downtown San Antonio.

Hays Street Bridge

Ellis Alley

Located near St. Paul Square, this area has historical significance as one of the first areas where African-Americans were allowed property ownership in Texas after the Emancipation Proclamation.

 

The City Cemeteries Historic District

Recently named to the National Register of Historic Places, the district includes over 100 acres of city and private cemetaries dating back to the mid 19th century.

Ella Austin Comunity Center

Provides family, social, senior and family services to the community. The center is named after Ella Austin who founded the center in 1897.

The Pushcart Derby

Held in Dignowity Park, its an annual event organized to bring the community together for a day of fun competive racing of artistically designed "pushcarts".

 

 

About our association

Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association

The Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association membership is open to all home and property owners in the Dignowity Hill area. Become a part of this active group of neighbors and make a difference in Dignowity Hill. Meetings are held every 3rd Monday of the month(except in April, November and December because of Fiesta and the holidays) at Childress Memorial Church located at the corner of Hays and N. Pine Streets.
Meeting time is at 6:30pm. President: Juan A Garcia, email:jbgarcia80@hotmail.com

Association Officers

Juan A. Garcia-President
Liz Casanova-Vice President
Hector J. Gonzalez-Secretary
Jonothan Proctor-Treasurer

Board of Directors:
Betty Green
Dee Smith
Andrea Pruitt

Committees:

Historic Preservation Committee: Diane Green

Bylaws

Bylaws Of Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association

[March 1982 - amended September 23, 2004, January 26, 2006 and September 27, 2007]

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association.

ARTICLE II - OFFICE

The principal office address of this Association shall be 1023 N. Pine Street, San Antonio, Texas 78202. The principal mailing address shall be P.O. Box 8092, San Antonio, Texas 78208 at the Wainwright Station, 515 Pierce Avenue. The locations may be changed at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE III - OBJECTIVES

The purpose for which the Association is organized is the preservation, protection, and development of the Dignowity Hill Area; to provide a better quality environment for living and enjoying the rich multi-cultural heritage of both past and present by:
Extending opportunities to residents, landowners, or anyone doing business in the area, or any interested party through education along lines of neighborhood and community affairs, and local topics of immediate interest;
Elevating and promoting the image of our neighborhood;
Encouraging the neighborhood to become involved in community affairs;
Bringing about a spirit of cooperation among the residents or any interested party of the Association;
Promoting a sense of pride and identity for the residents or any interested party of the Association;
Advising on available funding, loans, programs, etc. designated for the betterment and improvement of older neighborhoods;
Provide a forum for airing of grievances;
Establishing a direct line of communication with members of City Council;
Familiarizing residents or any interested party of the Association with the responsibility of belonging to the Association, especially that of involvement.
In short, the Association shall be primarily organized to serve the purpose of a civic league, as same is defined in Section 501(c)(4), Internal Revenue Code, in promoting the common good and general welfare of the residents of Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Community, and thereby enhancing the common good and general welfare of the people of San Antonio as a whole.



ARTICLE IV - POLICIES

This Association shall be nonsectarian, nonpartisan, nonprofit, and will seek the active participation of all persons regardless of race, age, sex or national origin.

ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Association may be held by any resident or landowner in the defined boundaries as set out in these Bylaws, or by anyone doing business within such area. Membership shall be divided among the following categories:
(a)Resident/Landowner membership: Any and all persons over the age of eighteen residing and/or owning land within the boundaries of the Dignowity Hill Area, as set out herein, whether as homeowner or tenant;
(b)Business membership: Any person, firm or corporation having a place of business within the boundaries assigned herein; provided however, that each such business shall be entitled to one membership only in the organization;
(c) Associate membership: Any person, firm or corporation who neither resides nor does business within the defined area, but nevertheless, maintains an interest in the Association, its purposes and objectives; provided however, that each such business shall be entitled to one membership only in the organization. An Associate Member shall have the privileges of membership but cannot vote or hold office.
Any person, firm or corporation described above may become a member of the Association by indicating a desire to join the Association to the Secretary, and causing his name to be placed upon the roll of the Association.

ARTICLE VI - BOUNDARIES

The defined boundaries as set up by the Association are as follows:
On the North - Sherman Street;
On the South - Commerce Street (excluding St. Paul Square);
On the East - North New Braunfels Ave. between Sherman and Houston Streets and then St. James between Houston Street and Commerce;
On the West - I H 37 (excluding St. Paul Square).

ARTICLE VII - DUES

Annual dues for each category of membership shall be recommended by the Board of
Directors and approved by a majority vote of the members in attendance at the meeting at which a dues change is considered. Dues shall be paid by December 31 for the following calendar year. Members shall be considered in arrears if their dues are not paid by _____________.

Membership Dues - Annual dues shall be as follows:
(a) Resident/Landowner Individual $5
(b) Resident/Landowner Family $10
(c) Business $15
(d) Associate $25

ARTICLE VIII - OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer.
Section 2. The term of office shall be for two years.
Section 3. Officers shall assume their duties the month following their election, and shall serve for two years and/or until their successors are duly elected.

ARTICLE IX - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1.
Officers and directors shall be elected at the December meeting by members present by a simple majority vote.
Section 2. At the November meeting the Association shall appoint a nominating committee of at least three members. The nominating committee shall present at the December meeting a slate of one or more nominees for each office. Nominations from the floor must be made at this time.

Section 3.
Vacancies in office shall be handled as follows:
(a) In the event of death, resignation or incapacity of the president, the vice-president shall become the president for the unexpired portion of the term.
(b) Vacancies in office other than the president shall be filled for the unexpired term by the executive committee as defined in Article XIII.
(c) Absence from three consecutive meetings will constitute a vacancy of the office.

Section 4.
No member shall hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms.

ARTICLE X - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The president shall be the principal officer of the Association. He/she shall:
(a) preside at all meetings of the Association;
(b) Appoint standing and special committee chairs with approval of the other officers, with the exception of the nominating committee;
(c) Bring to the attention of the Association all pertinent information of interest to area residents and any other interested party.
Section 2. The vice-president shall:
(a) Perform the duties of the president in the absence of the president;
(b) Become the president for the unexpired term in case of death, resignation, or incapacity of the president;
(c) Be ad hoc member of all committees;
(d) Serve in such capacities as assigned by the president.
Section 3. The secretary shall:
(a) Take and record accurate minutes of the proceedings of all meetings of the Association;
(b) Preserve in file all records and letters of value to the Association;
(c) Conduct the correspondence of the Association;
(d) Keep a roll of membership, indicating the name, address and telephone number of each member, as well as his or her classification of membership.

Section 4. The treasurer shall:
(a) Have charge of all monies of the Association and shall report thereon at all meetings;
(b) Keep an itemized record, in a permanent file, of all receipts and expenditures;
(c) File Form 990 and all forms as required by the Internal Revenue Service, and/or all forms as required by the State Comptroller's Office.
Section 5. Each officer shall deliver to his successor within fifteen (15) days after retiring from office all records, books, papers, and other property belonging to the Association.

ARTICLE XI - MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular Association meetings shall be held monthly on the fourth Thursday of the month except in April, November and December when the meetings shall be held on the third Thursday of the month.
Section 2. Three Board of Directors/Executive Committee members plus six dues paying voting members constitutes a quorum for Association meetings.
Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the president or by any five members, provided all interested parties, residents, landowners, and persons doing business in the area are notified in writing of the time, place and purpose of the meeting.

ARTICLE XIII - BOARD OF DIRECTORS/EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. The elected officers and three elected directors shall constitute a Board of Directors/Executive Committee of the Association.
Section 2. This group shall:
(a) Supervise the affairs of the Association;
(b) Make recommendations for the Association's growth and prosperity;
(c) Adopt any proposed amendments to these Bylaws as may be deemed necessary by a majority of the Board of Directors for presentation to the general membership;
(d) Transact any business meetings of the Association and report thereon at the next general meeting of the Association;
(e) Report at the annual meeting the business transacted by the Board of Directors during the Association's year.
(f) The executive committee shall fill vacancies in offices, other than that of the president, for the unexpired portion of the term.
Section 3. This group shall meet on the second Thursday of the month whenever necessary, and must meet at least every three months.
Section 4. Special meetings of the Board/Executive Committee may be called by any member of such board upon twenty-four hours notice to the remaining members.
Section 5. A majority of the voting members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors/Executive Committee whether regular or special.
Section 6. No member of this group shall have more then one vote, and in order to cast same, such member must be present at the meeting at which any vote is taken.

ARTICLE XIII - PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

The rules of parliamentary practice comprised in Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings of the Association.

ARTICLE XIV - AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended by resolution of the Board of Directors, which resolution shall be presented to the general membership at a regular monthly meeting, and such amendments may be adopted by a majority of the membership present at the next regular meeting scheduled thereafter.

ARTICLE XV - DISSOLUTION

In the event of dissolution of the Association, same shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements and the provisions of the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act, then in existence.

Email us
jbgarcia80@hotmail.com