Colonial Place/Riverview Civic League
COMMUNITY NEWS
Topic: Light Rail - Guest Speaker: Ross Kearney, Community Relations Manager, Hampton Roads Transit
NEXT BOARD MEETING will be May 20, 2002, at 7:00 pm.
DEADLINE for the June issue is Tuesday, May 28, 2002.
Included in this edition of Community News, is the letter submitted to the city's Planning Commission on behalf of the Colonial Place/Riverview Civic League.
The process of redeveloping Llewellyn Avenue will be a long and drawn out process that should include everyone's input. I encourage you to attend upcoming civic league meetings, beginning with the May meeting, and let your voice be heard.
The League named this year's Nominating Committee at its April meeting. Kathy Stark, Buffy Masten and Deborah Williams are serving on this year's committee.
We are currently seeking all willing and interested parties to run for office. This is a wonderful way to meet your neighbors and to participate in civic league business. We would love to include YOU. If you are interested in either running for office, or would like to recommend someone else, contact any of the Committee members at the numbers listed below, but please hurry as time is growing short. The Committee must formally present a slate of all interested candidates to the membership at the May 13 meeting of the League. Additional nominations will be accepted from the floor at the May meeting.
Election proceedures at the June meeting will be as follows:
1. All votes will be taken by secret ballot. Ballots will be color-coded by office.
2. Ballots will be handed out at the door upon verification of membership. The Membership Committee will have a list of all current members. Any resident becoming a paid member on the evening of the election will be eligible to vote.
3. Unless nominations for offices have been closed prior to election day, nominations for each office will be closed and elected before proceeding to the next office.
4. Each nominee, but not his/her nominator, will be afforded the opportunity to speak to the membership for two minutes.
Please contact Kathy Stark about procedural questions, or any committee member to have your name added to the slate of candidates.
Kathy Stark--640-8938
Buffy Masten--622-6635
Deborah Williams--625-2977
The B.O.B. (Beautify Our Borders) Committee has some exciting plans that we can all dig into--here's the "scoop".
At the Civic League Meeting on April 8, 2002, the members in attendance approved the expenditure of $1,300 to purchase plants, mulch, timber, and planting materials to prepare and plant the three garden beds that will frame our neighborhoods' three historical marker signs. Two of the signs will welcome folks to Colonial Place; one sign at the traffic circle at Colonial and Delaware Avenues and a second sign at Virginia Avenue and Mayflower Road. Riverview residents asked that their single sign be placed at the intersection of East 42nd Street and Columbus Avenue.
The landscape architect of Norfolk, Mr. Dean Bowles, presented plans for the garden beds that will frame the three signs. The selected plants were chosen for their color, suitability and ease of care and maintenance.
The garden bed at Colonial and Delaware Avenues will feature liriope, variegated hosta with narcissus, and leatherleaf mahonia. At Virginia Avenue and Mayflower Road, motorists will be greeted by oakleaf hydrangea, liriope, Happy Return daylilies, narcissus, and flower carpet roses. Riverview residents will be greeted by liriope, firepower dwarf nandina, Happy Return daylilies, and springtime Indian Hawthorn.
On May 18, a Saturday, a group of us will drive to a plant nursery (using a rental truck), pick up the plants, and "dig in" to plant those gardens. We plan to have lots of fun that day and we invite folks to join us to select plants, place them in the beds, and take part in adding to the beauty of our neighborhoods. If you can join us, please contact Kathy Stark at 640-8938--the more the merrier!
It's important to note that none of the three garden locations have a nearby water source. The B.O.B. Committee's strategic planning will include the development and implementation of long-term, practical maintenance plans for all three garden beds. If you are in a position to suggest an individual or organization that provides horticultural maintenance and watering services on a fee paid basis, please forward that information to Margaret Bright at 627-2815.
Thank you to all who have participated in the planning of the garden beds that will frame our historic designation signs. We always have room for more folks on the B.O.B. committee--get on board the train that's going places!
The last Saturday in April and the first Saturday in May were busy days for Colonial Place and Riverview.
The bi-annual neighborhood clean-up was held April 27. Four dumpsters were placed around the neighborhoods and four dumpsters were filled to the brim.
Many thanks to Audrey Webb and all the volunteers, including students from Blair, who picked up trash along the Haven Creek walking path.
The first Saturday in May was the 2nd Annual Backyard Tour. The weather and the turnout were disappointing--50 degrees in May! But the spirits were warm and the backyards lovely. Many thanks to the homeowners who opened their garden gates to visitors and to the many volunteers who helped with the event.
The Colonial Place Circus Arts Club is looking for new members. No experience needed!
Learn juggling, poi spinning, clowning, stilt walking, unicycling, tumbling, lion dancing, balance, rolobolo board and other circus skills.
We meet twice a week to accommodate two different age groups.
Age 10 and over - Fridays at 5:30 pm
High School and Adults - Sundays at 3:00 pm
Children under the age of 18 are required to have a parental permission form on file with us. Call for more details. Sandi Caldwell at 622-4755 (520 Connecticut Avenue) or visit our website at www.geocities.com/stiltgrrl
April 25, 2002
Brian Townsend
Norfolk Planning Department
810 Union Street
508 City Hall Building
Norfolk, Va 23510
Re: Llewellyn Avenue Redevelopment Plan/League Position
Dear Brian,
The Colonial Place and Riverview Civic League position regarding the City's proposed redevelopment plan is as follows:
We are excited that the City is willing to partner with Colonial Place and Riverview to make these long awaited and much needed improvements.This project should do much to enhance the quality of life in our two communities and "Our Fair City Of Norfolk".
Improvements to the "Haven Creek Waterfront" should not come at the expense of the already approved and funded Colonial Place/Knitting Mill Creek Bulkhead Project.
Our communities are supportive of the proposed improvements and enhancements, and; it is our desire to see this plan move forward.
We strive to be good citizens of Norfolk and in turn expect the City to be respectful and open to concerns of our residents.
The plans shown to us at our April '02 meeting regarding the proposed project are preliminary and although they seem positive, we reserve final judgement until, with citizen input, future issues are resolved and are deemed to be in the best interest of our communities.
We encourage and work to advance cooperation and collaboration among the citizens of our communities and our city government.
We look forward to working closely with all interested parties to resolve issues related but not limited to: housing density, parking, features of the "Open Space Park", ingress/egress, traffic, Haven Creek boat ramp/bulkhead/bike & walking path restoration, environmental issues along Haven Creek, a senior housing opportunity, drainage/flooding along the existing "Colonial Place Greenway" and extending closure of Llewellyn Avenue south to 38th Street.
Respectfully,
David Block, President
Colonial Place and Riverview Civic League
The Colonial Place/Riverview Civic League
P.O. Box 6347
Norfolk, VA 23508
E-MAIL: president@cprv.org (checked weekly)
WEB PAGE: www.cprv.org
Community News Editor: Kelly Sorensen, Phone 622-0437
Community News Distribution: Margaret Bright, Phone 627-2815
Advertising: Kelly Sorensen, Phone 622-0437
Please deliver typewritten newsletter items to:
Kelly Sorensen
Phone: 622-0437
e-mail: cprvnews@earthlink.net