Greater Englewood N. A.

ON LINE NEWS FOR SEPT. 2002

Jul 17, 2002

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Benefactor

As most people know, Greater Englewood Neighborhood Association is a non-profit corporation relying on sponsorships and member dues. GENA has not been an organization to spend dues money needlessly. Refreshments have been served at our regular meetings and our Christmas party?… all donated.

GENA often has unusual expenses pop up when least expected. Once in a while we have a benefactor who when told of an expense, volunteer to foot the bill. Some of the "gold color paper" for our newsletter was a donation. The most recent example was when our copy machine suddenly needed maintenance.

All of the above leads up to a "thank you!" to the unnamed member who wanted to pay for the copy machine repair service. This member donated one hundred dollars, the repair amount. Although this member does not want credit for this act, we at GENA express our heart felt thanks.
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Some general issues and programs affecting our community.

We all want needed infrastructure improvements in our area. Unlike new communities where the full tax value is realized, Englewood with it?’s older property owners save on taxes by the property tax increase being limited by a tax percentage cap which started at a lower property value amount. In the newer communities, a house is sold and the new owner must pay the full appraised tax value minus the homestead exemption of course. From this we understand why the city would favor newer neighborhoods for improvements.

As discussed previously, some home owners want sewer service. The city complains that when sewer service is made available in older neighborhoods, 17 % will not hook up. What is the answer?

We have also talked in the past about improving the business climate along Spring Park Road, the only business area within Englewood which greatly needs to be improved. GENA?’s "Theme" idea cropped up and we all supported it. Then along came the Mayor?’s Town Center Initiative (TCI). South Metro Community Development Association, Inc. (SM) is now interested in TCI and at the last SM meeting, our council representative wanted to include the route between San Jose Blvd. to the Emerson Expressway. This is more than we had anticipated, but is a better idea yet. A lot of money is available through TCI and could really improve the edge of our boundaries. This will require cooperation from the businesses, churches, neighborhood groups and other interested parties.

Here is the latest on the decommissioned transformer site at the corner of Turner and Clinton. Although there is an interested buyer for the property, the school board likes GENA?’s idea of a school bus pickup there. If approved, the site could have a bus driveway, a shelter for the school kids, provide a landscaping project for GENA and perhaps a cut out for JTA buses at the roadside. Jim Mollenhour is working with Vicki Kutscher to get this land adopted by the school board. Between the School Board, JEA, JTA and this site being in the Intensive Care Neighborhood (ICN), surely money will be available.

Now, if we could just get Turner connected to Philips at the south end. This change would relieve traffic on Clinton, a narrow and winding street with no sidewalks in a residential neighborhood. Additional lanes on Philips planned by the state will make Turner even closer. This location has a small retention pond and is just south of the trailer park.
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Our neighbor to the west is South Metro. SM is behind the cleanup on Philips Hwy. SM has requested and received funds to improve the landscaping at the Emerson and I 95 interchange. Although it will be completed, by law the billboards have to be kept viewable. This will hamper somewhat the landscaping.

Of greater importance is the effort SM is making to get their area included in the "Enterprise Zone", at present only designated to a portion of the north side. This, because of tax breaks would really make the area attractive from a business standpoint. Things are looking up at South Metro!

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Brought again to our attention are the illegal signs nailed to utility poles in Englewood. These signs are on public property and if you can safely remove them, do so. Most are hawking ways to lose weight or "WE BUY HOUSES". Call 630 CITY and complain. Make sure you have an adequate description of the location before calling.
LG