Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association

For those who remain interested in current issues affecting our neighborhood, here are some thoughts and questions that you might like to consider, discuss with your neighbors, discuss with Board members: Would the Neighborhood Design Review Committee better serve our neighborhood if it were divided into Commercial and Residential committees? During the CVS debate, some residents complained that they felt that NDR had failed to involve itself in residential projects that were not compatible with NDR standards. It was suggested that the reason is that the territory to cover is too great. In addition, do you think the committee would function better if there was a standing committee IN ADDITION to the open committee process where whoever shows up at a given NDR Committee meeting participates? Some people have suggested that there is insufficient continuity and perhaps too much responsibility vested in the Chair. An additional issue for consideration is the issue that St. Petersburg has a disproportionate share of Adult Congregate and Assisted Living Facilities serving the adult chronically mentally ill population and those with mental illness and addictions. During the CVS debate, neighbors and business owners along 4th Street North complained about chronic problems with this population of residents and reported excessive police calls regarding their conduct. It is not expected that a new retail store to replace Watson's will resolve this problem. Is there neighborhood interest in exploring and facilitating potential solutions? A third issue for consideration is that the North Shore neighborhood has changed considerably in the 18 and 1/2 years that I've resided here, and the challenges and issues we face have changed. It's a large, diverse neighborhood, and concerns that affect one portion of the neighborhood do not necessarily concern or affect other portions directly. Perhaps we should expect more strife and strain as various residents pay attention to their particular backyards? Can we respect differences and find ways as a Neighborhood Association to build consensus or to disagree respectfully? Is there a better way to try to see that various portions of the NS neighborhood are well-represented? The By-Laws of the Board of NSNA charges Board members with serving ALL members of the association without prejudice or favor, and the City of St. Petersburg has made it clear that it expects the Association to extend a vote to non-member residents as well in issues that are significant to all residents. Quite a challenge given the diversity of the neighborhood. The forum that we have in place to try to determine the wishes of the entire neighborhood is Association meetings and voting. Whoever shows up and votes has a voice and determines the course. Hope to see you at the General Membership Meeting on June 17.

Agree

Thank you susan for this long and complete posting. All of these issues are important.

The NDR issue is most important because once a building/home is completed we have to live with it for very likely the rest of our lives.

If the new building/home does not meet NDR, than we all loose.

Because we only have one stretch of road that is commercial, NDR should be used even more for residential projects.
NDR issues include any change to the exterior of a structure (except paint color), this includes additions and also items such as windows, roof materials, types of siding etc.

WE need a full time NDR committee. and we need the City to tell us when someone applys for a permit so we can review the proposed changes.

The City has not done a good job inforcing NDR.

I look forward to hearing more. NDR is the only protection the Historic nature of our neighborhood has.

By JC

Thanks, and More on ALFS...

Thanks, JC, for your response--I hope that you and others will attend NSNA meetings and participate in dialogues about NDR and other concerns. Members can also attend Board meetings and can call Board members to share your input. These are the available forums for members to have their voices heard. The NDR issues will be on the agenda for the next board meeting. In terms of the disproportionate share of Assisted Living Facilities that serve the adult chronically mentally ill and the complaints of residents and business owners, I have started a dialogue, just as a resident of North Shore, with colleagues at Suncoast Mental Health, Boley Manor, and Directions for Mental Health and will also contact the State agency that licenses and regulates these facilities in order to gather information and maybe find some avenues to address concerns. I would appreciate suggestions from others who may have ideas or information regarding this issue, and I would appreciate hearing from residents who encounter problems in their area with people that they believe reside in one of these facilities. Thanks.

ALFs

Susan, you may want to contact Margo Fischer who has been deeply involved with the ALF issue for the last four years or so. She has worked to not only shield the neighborhoods from the negative outflow from some of these facilities, but also to help the residents of the ALFs by making sure that they are properly cared for. She would be an excellent source of information.