One Neighborhood/taxes

Of course it would be better to remain one neighbrohood but, if so, then the talk of board members being concentrated on the north or south end of the neighborhood must stop. It is to be expected that right now most of the members willing to give their time would be on the south end, since it is most at risk and is being redeveloped more. If more homes around Coffe Pot start being torn down for new modern development, then it would likely be that more members from that area would become involved.

Another thing that should stop is the mentality that the southern end of neighborhood is ''slum and blight.''
This is no longer true (if it ever was.)
To work together as a cohesive group, such polarizing attitudes must be set aside and due consideration must be given to all NS residents, especially those who live closest to any changes being made.

Taxing ourselves should not be done again unless it is out of dire and very substantial need and with a super majority of residents approval. There is still controversy from the last taxing and it seems that some of the new blood in the association has come up with some good fundraising ideas which are proving to be successful.

changes are needed

I think that the changes that are needed are that replacement board members should be approved by the membership and that board members should be elected on a
rotating kind of format like city council and serve two year terms. Then also the president-elect system could be done away with and the president could be elected each year.

I also think that North shore is too big and that the southern part should have its own association because it is very different from the north part. I think this would make people get more involved and feel like they were more a part of a real neighborhood.

Thanks for responding to issues.

When we moved into the neighborhood nearly 19 years ago, the realtor told us that we were wise not to purchase property south of 13th Avenue or west of 1st Street. Those areas of the neighborhood have changed and improved greatly since we arrived. The southern portion of the neighborhood is different in character because of the presence of more multiple-unit dwellings than the northern portion and the possibility of new multiple-unit developments. The western portions are likely to be more affected by commercial development. But those portions of the neighborhood are inhabited by families with an investment in their properties and in their quality of life. Their needs and interests should be as well represented as those of homeowners in other portions of NS.

The neighborhood activism regarding the CVS proposal was an excellent demonstration of neighbors and Board members supporting those most directly affected by the development. I think it takes a mindset, a belief, in the quality of the neighborhood as a whole (quality best being defined by the majority of residents in the affected portion of the neighborhood). There will be many additional challenges to those portions of the neighborhood as the 4th Street commercial corridor continues to evolve and as more multiple unit developments are proposed by non-resident property owners. AND, the state psychiatric hospital in Arcadia is going to be closed without the necessary community support services for patients, and we're going to see increased demand for housing for them in St. Petersburg.

I am not bothered by a Board comprised predominantly of residents from a particular portion of the neighborhood. I think it's the belief systems of Board members I'm interested in. Are all residents worthy of NSNA support without prejudice or favor? And do Board members act on the membership's wishes, as defined by majority votes of those voting, regardless of personal opinions or interests?

This is a lengthy posting, so I'll just add one more thing. Did you know that the 1999 Candlelight Tour of Homes took in between 12,000. and 14,000. dollars, and profited about 9,000. dollars? I hope we'll exceed this profit this year, and I hope to see a profitable First Annual Garden Tour this spring. These and other fundraising activities, in combination with grant applications can help us improve our neighborhood without resorting to taxation. Some of you may have great ideas about fundraisers. Hope you'll contribute them and support the Candlelight and Garden Tours. Thanks.

To: One Neigh./Taxes

I would be glad to sit down with you any time and explain how folks from the west, north, south and east ends of North Shore have fought and worked for projects or needs on the north, south, east and west sides of North Shore for years. This is how it has always been. I will also be glad to show you how many of the improvements and campaigns have occurred towards the southern end which have been supported by folks from all parts of North Shore. I am on 15th Ave. and I have never hesitated to work on any need in any part of North Shore and I can literally name hundreds of other people who over the years have done the same thing.

As for justifying a group from any specific localized area within North Shore to be allowed to run the whole show, I say this. Look at the eight districts of the City of St. Petersburg. No one would ever say that District Four, thats us, should represent and lead the whole city. Its ludicrous. And so it should be for North Shore. Equal representation. When you have equal representation you do not end up with the haves and have nots. You do not end up with cat brawls like we are now experiencing.

I mentioned previously our ability to raise substantial funds through our self taxing ordinance. This was and can be a usefull tool again. We, the board over the years, have worked hard to maintain this program. I once ran up an estimate, with the city's help, on rebricking the avenues in North Shore which are currently not bricked. The price tag was a couple of million. Fund raising can not touch numbers like that. Only self taxing or some other similar opportunity can do that. Lets not be to hasty to set aside what is a very good tool. Do not get me wrong. Fund raising is great. It is needed and wanted. But it is not and can not be the total answer to large monetary needs.

By Steven D. Lange