Weinland Park Community Civic Association

Summary of Meeting of October 28, 2015

Brandyn McElroy, president, called the meeting to order at 6:39 p.m.
Combined meeting. Mr. McElroy announced that the November and December meetings of the
civic association will be combined on Wednesday, December 16, as a holiday potluck at 6:30
p.m. at the Schoenbaum Family Center. He encouraged neighbors to bring food for the potluck.
Community service. Mr. McElroy reported about 80 volunteers participated in Make a
Difference Day in Weinland Park on Saturday, October 24. Many volunteers worked in the citys
new tree nursery at the corner of North Fifth Street and East Eighth Avenue. Omar Elhagmusa
said volunteers are needed on Saturday, October 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to plant trees in the
nursery.
East Sixth closure. Ahmed Ebady, chair of the Safety Committee, reported the committee has
discussed the barriers that close East Sixth Avenue just west of Summit Street. The committee
members decided that it was time to re-open the barriers. One question was raised about what the
parking situation on East Sixth will be if the street is re-opened. Mr. McElroy said he will write a
letter to the city that will include recommendations for street improvements and sidewalks on
East Sixth Avenue upon its removal. One resident expressed concern that the street not be reopened without provision being made for sidewalks. Another resident suggested that there be an
online discussion of the re-opening. Yet another resident explained that the closure had been
instituted about 20 years ago to deal with crime concerns in the immediate area.
Woody Drake moved that the civic association ask for the removal of the barriers on East Sixth
Avenue with the provision that sidewalks be added. Mr. Ebady seconded the motion. The vote
was 20 in favor, 1 opposed, and 1 abstention.
Housing. Sean Storey and Matt Martin, co-chairs of the Housing Committee, spoke about the
work of their committee. Mr. Storey said the committee has discussed a housing goal for the
neighborhood and a new structure for the committee to encourage greater participation by
neighbors. The committees structure will permit a discussion of housing goals and current
housing concerns at the beginning of the meeting with developers discussing specific projects
later in the meeting. Mr. Martin said the structure should permit the committee to have strategic
dialogue about housing with time later in the meeting for discussion of details of projects. The
next Housing Committee meeting will be Monday, November 9, at 6 p.m. at Godman Guild. A
developer will come at 7 p.m. to discuss plans for an apartment building proposed for East 11th
Avenue and North Grant Avenue.
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Halloween. Mr. McElroy announced that neighbors on North Grant Avenue will have a
Halloween block party on Saturday, October 31, from 5 to 9 p.m. The block party will be on East
Seventh Avenue between North Sixth and North Grant.
Dance. Olaniyi Gaiusbayode reported on his plans to bring dance lessons to the neighborhood.
He suggested that the dance lessons could be done on Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Godman Guild. He
wants to start with young people, although their parents would be welcome to participate, too. He
also announced that he teaches dance several nights a week at MetroFitness.
Mr. McElroy spoke about trauma-informed community building and his desire to have activities
that can bring residents together and build relationships. He said the dance lessons would be an
example of such activities.
Mr. McElroy encouraged residents to connect through the civic associations Google group and
through Facebook and other social media. He said that boxes have been installed by residents
throughout the neighborhood for distribution of the civic associations monthly newsletter.
Terry Althouse announced that election day will be Tuesday, November 3. Godman Guild is a
polling location.
The business of the civic association being concluded, Mr. McElroy adjourned the meeting at
7:26 p.m.

Summary prepared by Steve Sterrett.