University District Inc.

University District Schedules Town Hall for May 5th

Apr 25, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
David Williams
University District, Inc.
324-7884

The University District, Inc. (UDI) has scheduled its annual Town Hall meeting for Saturday, May 5th from 10:00 a.m. ?– noon in the fellowship hall at Audubon Park Baptist Church located at the corner of Park and Goodlett.
?“Last year we had Mayor Herenton and a panel hosted by Councilman John Vergos to discuss neighborhood improvement opportunities,?” said David Williams, UDI President. ?“The year before last we invited home improvement specialists to answer questions about home and yard upkeep and maintenance.?”
?“This year,?” explained Williams, ?“we will focus on the economic development of the University District.?” According to Williams, the town hall meeting will feature a panel on economic development moderated by Carol Coletta and featuring Michelle Cowan, Cooper-Young, Gary Myers, Gary Myers Company, Dexter Mueller, Chamber of Commerce, and David Cox, University of Memphis. ?“Our intent is to be able to hear from and ask questions of those who have successfully impacted housing and business quality, like they have done in Cooper-Young, and also of those who are successful developers and economic development professionals who can provide insight regarding the acceleration of economic development with the community.?”
?“The five neighborhood associations that comprise UDI are focusing on clean-ups, code enforcement, crime and other neighborhood-specific issues,?” Williams explained. ?“It is time for UDI as a collaborative of neighborhood associations to look at multi-neighborhood issues such as economic development and begin to realize our true potential as a larger community.?”
?“We also decided to have the meeting somewhere other than the University of Memphis this year,?” said Williams. ?“We enjoy having meetings at the university, but it?’s good to have meetings at other locations around the district, too.?”
The Town Hall meeting serves as a casual opportunity for residents of the UDI to meet board members and many of the neighborhood association representatives. At the meeting neighbors can express any concerns and issues, or offer any suggestions on how to improve the community immediately surrounding the university.
UDI is a unique collaborative of five neighborhood associations and a business association located within the following boundaries - Park to Poplar and Goodlett to Lafayette/Greer/Semmes. Those associations include Normal Station Neighborhood Association, Messick Buntyn Neighborhood Association, East Buntyn Historic Neighborhood Association, Joffre Area Civic Association, University Neighborhood Coalition, and the Normal Business Alliance.