Neighbors Gather in Park Hill

On Tuesday, August 21, neighbors gathered for a neighborhood meeting in the newly-remodeled community room of Park Hill Senior Apartments at 535 W. Concordia. Outside, elder residents looked on as children enjoyed games and a martial arts demonstration led by volunteers from the Harambee neighborhood. Members of Solomon Temple United Methodist Church adjourned Bible class early to come over and participate in the meeting.

Residents and church members committed to working together in Park Hill to implement the main strategies laid out in the Neighborhood Action Plan:

1. Work with neighbors to do small projects that build community pride and improve the appearance and environment in their immediate area.



2. Help match homes for sale with homebuyers they know to increase owner-occupancy within their area.



3. Make efforts to reach out to neighbors, connect them with the organizations that are working together under the plan, and become ambassadors and leaders in making the neighborhood a great place to live.

In addition, residents heard about the new and increased resources the plan calls for:

1. Loans and grants for home improvements that fit with current residents' financial situation;


2. Incentives to attract new homebuyers who will live in the neighborhood;


3. Funds for community pride projects such as landscaping projects, vacant lot clean-ups, house lighting projects, neighborhood identity projects and other activities to connect neighbors and create positive neighborhood image;


4. More sources of support and information from neighborhood organizations for their positive efforts.

New leaders stepped up and agreed to meet again to plan a community pride project in two weeks. Then they enjoyed some ice cream together, complete with hot fudge, whipped cream and cherries.

Upcoming Northeast Side Plan Meeting

The following message is from Janet Grau from the Department of City Development that she asked us to forward to everyone from the Harambee Connections group.

To everyone:

We said we'd meet at the end of the summer and the end of the summer is here--well almost here, it's not over yet. The Northeast Side Plan Advisory Group will meet:

Wednesday, August 29th
UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning Commons--refreshments and light fare, children are welcome but there is no child care
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Browsing/networking/policy review and comment (open house style)/results available from the Image Preference Survey
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Plan update from consultant with opportunity for feedback--to start promptly at 4:00 p.m. in Rm 110 off the Commons

It's okay to park in the lot behind Engelmann Hall (Hartford and Maryland). We're working on free of charge. Bring a friend(s) if you want to. If you have questions about anything please call.

Standing offer for all Plan Advisory Group members--if you have a particular plan-related issue you want to discuss, please call to set up a meeting. Thanks and I look forward to seeing you.

Janet

P.S. Mark Prudom who has been helping out with the plan over the summer will be leaving shortly to fulfill his military commitment. Sarah Horn who is studying abroad, will be coming back.

Janet F. Grau AIA AICP Dept. of City Development, Planning Division 809 N. Broadway Milwaukee WI 53202-3617 phone: 414-286-5724 FAX: 414-286-0730 E-mail: jgrau@milwaukee.gov Note e-mail change to milwaukee.gov

Cluster Two Cookout Fundraiser

This Saturday, August 25th, Cluster Two Neighborhood Association is having a cookout at Solomon Community Temple (3295 N MLK Drive) to raise money to purchase school supplies for children in the neighborhood. The event starts at 10:00 AM. Brats, burgers and hot dogs will be served along with chips and soda.

Please stop by and buy some food for a great cause. Cluster Two is a great neighborhood group that is very active in the community, and they deserve our support.