Sherwood Forest

November December 2004

Nov 26, 2004

YEAR-END THOUGHTS

The end of the year provides me with the opportunity to thank the many residents who have worked so hard throughout 2004 to keep Sherwood Forest the very special community that we all treasure. The Board of Directors continues to serve our community well, and this year we were particularly fortunate to gain the energy and talents of two new board members ?– Valerie Leigh of Warrington and Ron Kischuk of Shrewsbury. We contracted with a new patrol service, RCN Security, and we are delighted with its responsiveness. Around the same time that we contracted with RCN, we began a concerted campaign to increase our patrol membership in the hope that this will allow us to increase the number of hours of patrol coverage. Although we still have a long way to go, our numbers have increased thanks to a group of dedicated volunteers who knocked on doors and made phone calls to tell their non-subscribing neighbors about the benefits of patrol membership. My special thanks to Mark Lock, Florence Gantz, Nadine Williams, Suncha Young, Valerie Leigh, Patricia Smith, Rose Lucas, Mike Alberts and Carroll Little, who have contributed so much to the financial stability of the patrol through their tireless work on the membership campaign. Thanks too to Charlie Primas and Gordon Rodwan for their contributions to the smooth day-to-day operations of the service.

Warrington resident Kim Tandy agreed to serve as our representative to the 12th Precinct Neighborhood Coalition, and she is keeping us informed and involved in the work of that important organization.
Officer James Coles of the 12th Precinct has been most cooperative in providing us with area crime statistics.

Florence Gantz, the chairperson of our Reforestation Committee, has written below of the help she has received from resident gardeners who have contributed shrubs and flowers and maintained the pocket parks throughout the neighborhood. I add my thanks to hers.

It is indeed a pleasure to serve as president of a neighborhood association in a community of such caring and generous residents. Please feel free to call me with your suggestions and comments. Please also consider becoming involved in the work of our community. I am always looking for volunteers for a variety of important assignments.

My warmest wishes to each and every members of our Sherwood Forest family.

Lois E. Primas
President, Sherwood Forest Association


OUR PARKS HAVE BEEN BEAUTIFUL THIS YEAR, AND IT?’S NO ACCIDENT

For the first time in many years, the city was able to cut the grass in our small parks and walk-throughs, and we are grateful for the opportunity to relinquish that responsibility. However, it was our own neighbors who provided and planted flowers, trimmed bushes and kept the parks clean throughout the spring, summer and fall. Although many
helped in that effort, special thanks go to Ernest Thompson, Herbert Dipple, Pat Shay, Gail Rodwan, Mary and Edsel Stallings and Mary Ellen and Eugene Benson.

Florence Gantz
Reforestation Committee

JAZZ IN JANUARY

Our next ?“Meet and Greet?” will be a jazz concert featuring talented musicians from our own neighborhood. Marcia and Martin Baum have offered to have the concert in their Shrewsbury home in late January. The date and other details of this not-to-be-missed event will be published in the next Tattler.

BRIDGE ROADWORK ON HOLD

Governor Jennifer Granholm has delayed sending an environmental assessment study on the Woodward-Eight Mile Road Bridge to the Federal Highway Administration for its approval. Instead, she has authorized the Economic Development Corporation to do a survey on the impact of the bride on economic development in the areas adjacent to the bridge. The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced a plan to keep the Woodward overpass and make repairs to the existing intersection. That plan has been supported by some of the neighborhoods most directly affected, particularly Greenacres.

LIGHTING UP THE NIGHT

One of our biggest neighborhood complaints is that our streetlights are so unreliable, with lights out of operation for weeks at a time. We hope that help is on the way from the city. But in the meantime, there is something that all of us can do for just a few pennies. One neighbor suggests that individual homeowners buy the ?“dusk to dawn?” devices that can be screwed into porch lights and other outside lights. They are widely available and easy to install. If all of our residents used them, we could light up our neighborhood every night, even on those nights when city lighting fails us.





SHERWOOD FOREST MOVES TO ENFORCE PROPERTY RESTRICTIONS AND HISTORIC DISTRICT REGULATIONS

Soon after Sherwood Forest was designated an historic district, one of our residents made major alterations to his property in violation of both property restrictions and rules applicable to historic districts. Enforcement actions were initiated in the courts and before the Detroit Historic District Commission. The latter denied the property owner?’s request for retroactive permission to perform some of the nonconforming alterations. The homeowner appealed the denial to the State Historic Commission Review Board in Lansing. That board recently affirmed the major portion of the Detroit Historic District Commission?’s decision and entered an order that the property be restored to its previous condition. That will involve tearing down or removing a garage, a driveway, stone fence pillars and a vinyl fence. The homeowner may appeal the review board decision to the courts; as of this writing we do not know whether the homeowner will take that step.

The Sherwood Forest Association provided evidence, monitored the proceedings, and is generally satisfied with the results. This case involved extreme violations, but it is a reminder that both property restrictions and historic district requirements must be enforced if they are to have any meaning. This is also true of city zoning and building restrictions applicable to property in our neighborhood.

The Sherwood Forest Association and the Detroit Historic District Commission want to work with neighbors so that it will be easy to make exterior improvements consistent with existing rules. These rules are for the benefit of the entire neighborhood. Their enforcement brings aesthetic and financial rewards to homeowners. We urge our residents to inform themselves of compliance requirements so that we will not have another unfortunate instance where a homeowner is ordered to tear down or remove structures.

Every resident should have a written copy of our property restrictions. They also are printed on our web page, www.neighborhoodlink.com/detroit/swoodforest. If you need help in understanding the regulations governing historic neighborhoods, feel free to contact Kristine Kidorf at the Detroit Historic District Commission at (313) 224-6536 or www.kkidorf@ppd.ci.detroit.mi.us.




A SEASONAL REMINDER TO KEEP VEHICLES OFF THE STREETS

This is a reminder to all residents NOT to leave cars parked on the street any longer than necessary and certainly not overnight. Our neighborhood is safer and more beautiful when its streets are not cluttered with vehicles.

Most residents are aware that it is a violation of city ordinances to leave a personal vehicle on the street for more than 48 hours without moving it or to leave a commercial on the street overnight.

As we move into snow season, it is particularly important to remember that our street snow removal efforts cannot succeed without the cooperation of residents in getting cars off the streets before snow removal equipment enters the neighborhood. We normally have our streets cleared after a snowfall of four inches or more. Sherwood Forest Association dues pay for street snow removal, and it is in the interest of all of us that our snow removal contractor works as effectively as possible. That will happen only if our streets are free of cars.

ASSOCIATION DUES REMINDER

The fiscal year for the Sherwood Forest Association began on October 1. Many residents have not yet paid their $45 dues. We do so many good things throughout the year with your $45, and we need your support. If your dues remain unpaid, please send your check today to our treasurer, Sue McMillan, at 19494 Shrewsbury. If you have questions about the status of your membership, call Sue at 862-6366.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS

Palmer Woods Holiday Home Tour: Sunday, December 5, 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. Five beautiful homes will be on the tour. For information on how to purchase tickets in advance, call (313) 618-7300. On the day of the tour, tickets can be purchased at the 12th Precinct.

Indian Village Women?’s Garden Club Sponsors Christmas in the Village: Saturday, December 11. To reserve tickets, call 822-8111.

Boston-Edison Home Tour: Sunday, December 19. You must call 883-4360 to select a time and reserve tickets.

Corktown - City Lights . . .Holiday Nights: Thursday, December 9, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Music, beer and wine, a light buffet and a silent auction in a spectacular fifth floor penthouse home in Corktown. This is a benefit for Workers?’ Rowhouse, an 1850?’s tenement in the neighborhood that is an historic attraction and a planned cultural destination. Call 965-5853.

Downtown: The beautiful new Campus Martius Park is now open directly in front of the Compuware building on Woodward Avenue. Bring your ice skates, and enjoy one spectacular view.

UPCOMING BULK PICKUP DATES:

December 27, 2004
January 24, 2005
February 28, 2005

Remember that bulk items should not be placed at the curb earlier that the evening before bulk pickup day.