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Elizabeth Community Association newsletter, Charlotte, NCTRANSCRIPT
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Nancy albertnewsletter564 Oakland Avenue 28204 704 789 1255 [email protected]
Russell Crandalltraffic/block captain2338 Greenway Avenue 28204 704 894 2283 [email protected]
Michelle Dagenhartsocial1925 Bay Street 28204 704 335 0280 [email protected]
Dianna Desaulniersmembership2222 Greenway Avenue 28204 704 236 4286 [email protected]
Babak emadiHENF/zoning/trees725 Clement Avenue 28204 704 334 1648 [email protected]
Jean gallowayECA treasurer2101 East 5th Street 28204 704 377 3936 [email protected]
Matthew Ipsancommunications417 Ridgeway Avenue 28204 704 728 6364 [email protected]
terry lettsocial2107 Greenway Avenue 28204 704 377 0052 [email protected]
tony Millerzoning2309 Kenmore Avenue 28204 704 377 8500 [email protected]
linda NashHENF/block captain1921 East 9th Street 28204 704 332 9808 [email protected]
Maya packardsocial2400 East 5th Street 28204 704 334 2196 [email protected]
Ruffin Pearcezoning2121 Greenway Avenue 28204 704 331 4989 [email protected]
J.t. petersenadvertising/business/block captain712 Louise Avenue, Suite 102 28204 704 340 2529 [email protected]
todd Rubensonbeautification509 Louise Avenue 28204 704 386 4401 [email protected]
Melanie sizemoreECA president2309 Vail Avenue 28207 704 335 0909 [email protected]
Kris solowbeautification2109 East 5th Street 28204 704 806 4456 [email protected]
peter tartzoning1517 East 8th Street 28204 704 372 4147 [email protected]
Roxie townszoning/beautification1512 East 8th Street 28204 704 342 1000 [email protected]
the elizabeth Mad hatter easter egg hunt takes place after the Big E race, March 24 at 10:30 a.m. The location is Independence Park, on the rose garden side. Rain date is Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Hundreds of treat-filled eggs will be hidden in plain sight for the littlest hunters, with a more challenging area for older kids. Wear your silliest hat or most beautiful Easter bonnet,
bring an empty basket to fill up and visit the animals at the petting zoo. Info: Maya Packard at 704 334 2196 or [email protected]. To volunteer for egg stuffing and hiding, contact Shelley Misiaveg at 704 342 4377 or [email protected]. An open house egg-stuffing party will be held at the home of Kristan Magas on Thursday, March 22 at 2201 East Fifth Street.
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happy spring by Nancy Albert
In this issue the ECA newsletter again explores the themes set out in my introduction to the fall issue, my first as editor. The history of the neighborhood is touched upon with articles about St Martin’s Church, the first in a planned series devoted to Elizabeth’s historic churches, and in another about author Harry Golden. Tony Miller’s article on the important work of the ECA Zoning Committee and Matthew Ipsan’s “Five Questions with County Commission Chair Jennifer Roberts” (also the beginning of a regular feature) deal with Elizabeth’s present state and the shared concerns about its future. Finally we highlight one of the many community-wide projects sponsored by the ECA; the 8K Road Race for the Trees, which will take place on 3/24.
I again invite you all to become part of this process. Attend our monthly meetings, come to the Progressive Dinner, run or walk for the trees. Join the growing group of people aptly described by long-time resident Jennifer Roberts as “interesting, varied (some are even quirky), from all walks of life, community minded, artistic and creative, and caring.” These are the people who make up the neighborhood of Elizabeth.
Big e road race for the trees by Michelle Dagenhart
The Big E Elizabeth 8K is here again. This is the second oldest road race in Charlotte, turning 21 years of age this March 24, 2007. What a wonderful tradition. This is the ECA’s largest fundraiser and will benefit the beautification of the neighborhood. The race is brought to you by Grubb Properties, Presbyterian Orthopaedic and the other sponsors listed below. Last year, we raised over $7,000 for the tree project. We can also be proud of the beauty of our neighborhood and the hospitality of our residents as runners from all over Charlotte and beyond run through the streets of Elizabeth.
We are offering an 8K run, a 3K walk and a 1K fun run for children. Runners/walkers will meet at the Hawthorne Recreation Center prior to the race. The run goes through many of the beautiful streets of our neighborhood. The finish line is at Independence Park, where there will be awards, music, a kids fun run, and the Easter Egg Hunt beginning at 10:30 a.m. You can help your neighborhood and be involved in this fundraiser by running, walking, volunteering, or even sitting on your porch to cheer the runners on.
You can run! An 8K race sounds mysterious and impossible
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but it is really only 5 miles. If you start training now, you can get there. This is a pretty casual race, so walking is also perfectly fine. Go get some running shoes and get started. Register at elizabeth8k.com. The Registration fee is $20 prior to the race. You’ll get a race package including a T-shirt for the big day. Think of how great you’’ll feel afterwards. Last minute registration at Hawthorne Recreation Center begins at 7:15a. m. on the morning of the race. Please contact Michelle Dagenhart at 704-335-0280 or e-mail [email protected] for details.
Are bad knees holding you back? Then walk the 3K. If 5 miles of running seems daunting, how about walking less than 2 miles? You can do that in minutes and get ready for swimsuit season all while giving your support to our neighborhood. Get together with some friends and register at elizabeth8k.com. The price and benefits are the same.
We also need volunteers, including some early birds, to help out with the race. If you are able to stand at a designated spot near your house from 8:00 to 9:30 a. m. we need you to cheer on our runners on and make sure they don’t lose their way. We also need volunteers beginning at 6:30 a. m. to help get runners registered, work water tables, help out at the finish line and
etc. We promise to have lots of hot coffee. Please call Cheryl Brinkerhoff, our volunteer coordinator, at 704-506-2414 or e-mail cheryl. [email protected].
Pass the word! Let your running friends know about our race. Flyers can be found at the YMCA and at local sponsors, or check out our dedicated website at elizabeth8k.com. Below is a list of our sponsors to date. Please contact Judd Gee at 704-536-3421 if your business would like to participate. Be sure to thank them for their support when you visit their businesses.
Grubb Properties Presbyterian Orthopaedic ... .......Hospital Starbucks Hawthorne’s Pizza Heartwood Tree Emily Zarbatany HM Properties JHG Financial Philosopher’s Stone Carpe Diem Cooking Uptown Conformity Corp Commonwealth Animal ...... .......Hospital Copley Internet/oldhouses.com Jackelope Jack’s Showmars Crown Athletic Club Jane & Roxie Towns
Dickens Mitchener Visualite Theatre Ortho Carolina DPR Elizabeth Place Condominiums NoFo-Liz Nature’s Ponds The Penguin Kellam, Simpson & Loflin The Fig Tree Tull Mortgage Diamond Springs New Directions Harris Teeter Common Market Brueggers Snoops
how zoning works by Tony Miller
What is the purpose of zoning? Zoning regulations are intended to allow property owners reasonable use of their property as long as it is not detrimental to abutting properties or to the neighborhood.
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Every city property has a zoning classification that determines how the property can be used. Each classification has detailed rules for allowed uses and requirements for setbacks and buffers that preserve positive quality of life elements, such as light, air and density. Most of Elizabeth’s properties predate the first Charlotte zoning ordinance. When the original ordinance was adopted in the early 1950s, properties were assigned a designation that reflected use at the time or was intended to separate dissimilar uses in the future.
Why would a zoning designation need to be changed? Some non-complimentary uses were already in place at the time the first zoning ordinance was applied. Over time, city design attitudes change. When the first Charlotte ordinance was applied, the thinking of city planners was that most uses should be separated and that cars needed priority in land planning. Additionally the first ordinances offered a limited range of zoning classifications. These designations were designed for suburban yet-to-be-developed sites but were applied in both suburban and urban locations. Elizabeth was disfigured by these designations. They prohibited the existing pedestrian-friendly environment and required large front setbacks. Newer commercial development
cut trees for the required new parking and allowed construction at the rear of the lots, with curb cuts crossing what were active pedestrian sidewalks.
Beginning in the late 1980s, planners in Charlotte realized that the character of walkable neighborhoods could be recreated by new zoning designations that allowed for limited mixed-use so that people could walk to services again. New designations were created requiring buildings to
face the sidewalk or hide their parking. These designations are more complex. Some allow more density and reduce the total amount of space taken for parking and infrastructure, but Elizabeth still contains mostly suburban style office and business zoning designations along Seventh, Randolph and Independence.
What is the process for rezoning? Only the city council has the authority to change a parcel’s zoning designation. As a political
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entity, each council member takes advice from petitioners, neighbors, the community association, city and planning staffs and the planning commission. Petitioners pay to have the city planning staff give written notifications to all abutting neighbors within 100’ and community associations within a one mile limit. They have the opportunity to oppose, approve or improve the petition through community meeting reports and a public hearing before city council. City staff from various departments use a numerical ranking system to evaluate the merit of potential rezonings. The various criteria include whether infrastructure is in place, whether the use is compatible with other uses, small area plans and development standards currently in place. The planning commission (volunteers appointed by city council) evaluates the petitions merits and relationship to overall needs.
the eCa’s role The ECA board’s recommendations carry considerable weight with council members. In my 10 years on the board, the city council has agreed with the ECA board’s recommendations without exception. The ECA zoning committee contacts all petitioners and advises on the feasibility or desirability of a rezoning petition and works out use and design details.
Some petitioners are dissuaded or dramatically revise their petition after that contact. The zoning committee also sends representatives to community meetings to gage concerns and advise the full ECA board of sentiment and progress. Most petitioners address the ECA board even though it is not legally required. Neighbors are always welcome to come to the ECA board meeting held on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Hawthorne recreation center building.
the neighbor’s role Property owners within 100’ of any property line are notified by city staff regarding an informal meeting with the petitioner and interested parties. The city letter also contains the dates of the zoning committee work session. Additional letters from the city are sent if dates are changed due to deferments. Letters also contain maps and the contacts for the city planning staff (704-336-2205) as well as the web address (www.rezoning.org) for the latest updates on the petition.
Petitioners filing conditional rezoning petitions are required to send property owners and community associations notice of a community hearing prior to the public hearing. A report is required to be filed with city clerk at least 10 days prior to the public hearing stating who attended and their sentiments. The ECA board
usually sends a representative to listen and advise. If there is a flaw in the letters, timing or other aspects of this meeting it must be reported to the city for evaluation by city council. Neighbors not within the legal limit are not notified with letters, but by the city’s installation of yellow rezoning signs at the site, with the petition number. Any interested party can go to www.rezoning.org to find the details and all meeting dates.
the protest petition A petition protesting reclassification must be signed by the owners of either 20% or more of the area included in proposed change, or 5% of a 100’ wide buffer along the entire boundary of each area proposed to be rezoned. This must be filed with the city clerk at least two working days prior to the public hearing. Protest petitions may be withdrawn at any time prior to the council’s vote, but may not be reinstated after the original filing deadline. For more information call the city clerk’s office at 704-336-2248.
The ECA encourages anyone who is eligible to file a protest petition so that no negative changes are made to a petition between the public hearing and the council vote.
What are the chances of a successful rezoning? The ECA board requires that all up zoning petitions
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in Elizabeth be conditional, thus requiring community meetings and a project design. Rezoning petitions that allow greater density can be recommended when the following conditions are met: the immediate neighbors are pleased with the change, the project replaces low quality property with high quality development, is consistent with the scale of immediate area, no historically contributing structures are razed or defaced, no residential-only deed restrictions are violated, traffic can be dissipated to mitigate any negative effect, provisions are made for a pedestrian friendly environment and space is allotted for maturing trees.
Most parcels rezoned in Elizabeth have been down zonings. Anyone wanting to reduce the zoning of a parcel from a non-residential to a residential designation will likely be supported by the ECA. Most down zonings are 3rd party petitions filed by either the ECA or city staff. The majority of the older section of Elizabeth
(along Sunnyside) was down-zoned from office and multi-family in 2005. The newer zoning classifications allow for development sympathetic with the historic Elizabeth neighborhood. No one has successfully rezoned to the more suburban style office or business classifications since the newer classifications have been available.
Five questions with Jennifer Roberts, County Commissioners Chair by Matthew Ipsan
Matthew: The Elizabeth Community would seem to be a hotbed of political activity, with so many of our residents involved in government, be it
city, county or state. Why do you think that is?
Jennifer Roberts: There are probably many reasons for this, but one obvious one is that people who choose to live in an urban setting near uptown are closer to many of the important issues the city is facing. It is easier for us in Elizabeth to see things like the impact of growth, the increasing environmental challenges, the need to provide social services to seniors, veterans and homeless people, and the changing dynamics of public safety. People who live in Elizabeth are here because they like to be informed and connected, whether it is to cultural events, to services,
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to other people in an urban setting, or to policy.
Matthew: In what ways is your current position as county commissioner chair different than just being a county commissioner?
Jennifer Roberts: The chairmanship is a more visible position, so there are more requests for me to respond or to speak on behalf of the board and its position on issues. I have much more contact with the media and am more likely to be observed when I attend events. I spend more time communicating with other members of the board and building consensus and trust. There are many board responsibilities and liaison roles with groups such as the Charlotte chamber, the regional partnership, and the Centralina council of governments that the chair fills. I’m also asked to speak for the county’s interests at the state and federal levels, so I spend more time with other governing bodies and other officials. Being the chairman is like being a commissioner to an exponential degree.
Matthew: The proposed land-swap that in the end would realize a baseball park for the Charlotte Knights has been controversial to say the least, and will affect how neighborhoods are shaped for years to come. What do you think will happen when it is all settled?
Jennifer Roberts: If the land swap is done the right way, much of the vision for the re-development of uptown will be accomplished in a way that is transit and pedestrian friendly. We will have two new county parks in the uptown area that will be active and surrounded by mixed use development. Bringing residences, offices and retail to the Marshall Park area in Second Ward (old Brooklyn Village) will bring vitality and vision to an area of uptown that has been a government dead zone for decades. This re-development, which will include affordable housing and an emphasis on minority contractors, will help heal some of the pain from the 1960s, when African-Americans were forced out of Brooklyn in the name of urban renewal. We’ll move CMS headquarters into a new building, on the other side of the block it is currently on, bring affordable and workforce housing into the area, renovate the old Second Ward high school gym as a neighborhood rec center, and possibly build a new Second Ward magnet high school that could play on the strengths of what uptown has to offer. If the Knights can raise $35 million in private funds, we’ll also have a baseball stadium within walking distance of many office towers, with affordable tickets and true family entertainment. No tax dollars are being used to build the stadium. The beauty of this plan is that even if the
Knights can’t put together the financing, we still end up with two great public parks and the revitalization of Second Ward.
Matthew: How long have you lived in Elizabeth and why/how did you and your family arrive in the neighborhood?
Jennifer Roberts: We bought a house in Elizabeth in 1993 after renting for a year in Fourth Ward. We had no children at the time, and had only been married a year. We loved the proximity to uptown, the ability to walk to retail and restaurants, the old houses, the great architecture, and the true neighborhood feel of the area, where people get along with their neighbors, care about each other, sit out on their front porches and talk to those walking by.
Matthew: What’s your favorite thing about Elizabeth?
Jennifer Roberts: Definitely the people. They’re interesting, varied (some are even quirky), from all walks of life, community minded, artistic, creative and caring. There are also many good Democrats!
Matthew: Jennifer, thanks again for taking the time to respond, we so appreciate how you represent us in the neighborhood and the county at large.
photomontage from www.jenniferroberts.net
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st. Martin’s episcopal Church (Wilkes memorial) by John D. Elliot, Jr.
St. Martin’s Episcopal was the first church in Charlotte east of Sugaw Creek, initially holding worship at its present location on the first Sunday in January, 1912. On April 24th, 1912, the cornerstone was laid by the Rt. Rev. Joseph Cheshire, Bishop of NC, amid much ado, reported next day by a lengthy article in the Charlotte Daily Observer. (Among articles placed in the cornerstone is the Observer’s headline story of the sinking of the Titanic.) The first service was held in the neo-gothic English field chapel on All Saints Sunday, November 3, 1912.
The roots of St. Martin’s reach to another neighborhood: in 1881, a small Sunday school building was erected by the parishioners of St. Peter’s in the “Mechanicsville” section of Charlotte, at Tenth and Davidson Streets on land purchased by Mr. Cheshire, then rector of St. Peter’s. In 1887, a modest brick chapel was erected there by John Wilkes, founder of Mecklenburg Iron Works, for the spiritual use of his employees and other residents. The original worship service was performed August 21, 1887, and St. Martin’s celebrates its anniversary from that date.
In 1911, the leaders of St. Peter’s decided to move St. Martin’s to the new Elizabeth neighborhood,
following the streetcar lines out Elizabeth Avenue to Hawthorne Lane, where they turned onto 7th Street before continuing on out just past the city limits at Pecan Street. They purchased most of the block alongside Independence Park between Cecil Street and Hawthorne Lane.
A wooden “guild house” was moved from uptown to the 7th Street location, and picnics were held from it in the new Independence Park location in 1911 (the basin-shaped park is actually the former lakebed which served as the city reservoir until 1904). Efforts to replace it were begun in the late 1920’s, but deferred by the Depression and war. Eventually, the money was raised, and the guild house was razed, and the current Parish House was built in 1948. It was renovated and enlarged in 1989-90.
Three enlargements and a renovation have altered the small chapel. In 1923, St. Martin’s traded land for Armory Drive to the city for a triangular plot on the east end, enabling the extension of the building and addition of the sacristy on the north side. This plot was sanctified as a memorial garden in 1986. Increased attendance again meant an enlargement in 1934, and this time the entrance was moved to the elongated west end, and the vestibule and narthex
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added. The archway of the old entrance remains in the brick façade today on 7th Street.
An arsonist (a 14-yr-old girl!) necessitated gutting the sanctuary building in 1952. At that time, the wings were added, bringing the building to its present width and length: the transepts were swallowed in the widening, and the building lost its traditional “cross” shape. Parishioners donated the beautiful Story of Jesus series of stained-glass windows by Katherine Lamb Tait, of the Lamb Studio in New Jersey. The Stained Glass Association of America, honoring 150 years
of the Lamb Studio’s art, will hold its annual meeting at St. Martin’s in June.
Today’s canopy of willow oaks was planted in 1919 in honor of the boys from St. Martin’s who defended freedom “over there” during World War I. All but one returned safely, four were photographed at the dedication and plaques were mounted on the trees. Unfortunately, the recent drought weakened these centenarians and two have been removed (the trees, not the boys).
St. Martin’s has been a center for Elizabeth neighborhood activity for nearly a century. The first Girl Scout troop in Charlotte began here in 1917 after the first Boy Scout troop moved here (from the YMCA) in 1915. Friendship Trays was founded here in 1974 as a joint effort of five Elizabeth
churches to visit neighbor hood shut-ins with a hot lunch five days a week, enabling the recipients to avoid institutional care. The program has grown far beyond its founders’ dreams. Crisis Assistance also operated here until larger facilities were obtained. St. Martin’s joyfully hosts many neighborhood activities (including a monthly Elizabethans Luncheon for neighbors of a “reasonable age”), and seeks more ways to welcome and serve all of Elizabeth and the greater Charlotte community as Elizabeth evolves in the 21st century.
dum dee dum dum... To see the sites, watch out for your dots and slashes. Type web addresses into your browser exactly as printed here, but without the returns, of course.
This is not ad space, but if you know of a website that pertains to Elizabeth in a community service sort of way, please let us know so we can include it here. Please mail the full web address to Nancy Albert, [email protected].
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eCa website www.elizabeth community.com
Under the Water tower www.eliza-blog. blogspot.com
the Big e race www.elizabeth8k.com
historic elizabeth www.landmarkscommission .org/educationhistlist elizabeth.htm
CharMeck www.charmeck.org
NC government www.nc.gov
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harry golden and elizabeth avenue by Nancy Albert
This rather sad little marker, dwarfed by CPCC’s student parking deck and Security office, marks the spot at 1312 Elizabeth Avenue where Harry Golden once lived. In the 1950s Golden, a noted Jewish journalist and humorist, moved into a pre-WWI house at this site. It became both his home and office. Golden wrote and published a newspaper called the Carolina Israelite that combined reminiscences of his New York City immigrant childhood with comments on current affairs. He gained national acclaim as one of the great southern liberal voices of the Civil Rights era. In 1958 a number of these columns were collected into a book titled Only in America. Many prominent cultural leaders visited him on Elizabeth Avenue. Poet Carl Sandburg, who often visited, called Golden “an apostle of freedom, a friend and a voice of ‘those who love liberty, unselfishly, everywhere.’” Thanks to Dr. Tom Hanchett of the Levine Museum of the New South.
Seasonal Reflection by Matthew Ipsan
It’s been amusing to see how the lack of a cold winter has manifested itself throughout our fir borough.
There’s my neighbor, tired of the dog poop in his yard,
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left by those neighbors who didn’t feel the need to clean up after their pet. With no snow, or consistent cold weather, sidewalks have been filled with couples, kids, families and pets. If we’d had more cold weather, some snow or just a normal winter, most likely many of those people and pets would not have been out roaming the sidewalks, far from their yard.
My neighbor, tired of having his kids and his shoes caked in doggie doo-doo after any routine sojourn through his front yard, finally had enough. Even though he was enjoying the unseasonably warm weather as much as the next person, and his kids were loving the tropical temps, he’d reached his end point.
One Saturday morning I set about looking for canine land mines in my yard, as the night before, the temperature never dipped below 50. While bending over to slide
my pooper-scooper under an anonymous load left by an unrepentant hound, I noticed my neighbor’s shovel protruding from the ground in his yard, about five feet from the sidewalk.
Leaning up against the face of the shovel was a cardboard sign that read, “PLEASE PICK UP YOUR DOG SH*T. PEACE”
Just another sign that global warming was having unimaginable consequences.
progressive Dinner by Beth Haenni
Save the date! The annual Elizabeth progressive dinner is Saturday April 28th. Mark your calendar for an evening of food, drinks and celebrating spring with your Elizabeth neighbors. Details to follow at www.elizabethcommunity.com.
If you’re interested in being a host house and can seat from 6 to 12 people for dinner, please e-mail lisa @ pearces.com. For questions, please e-mail Lisa or [email protected]
eCa membership drive by Diana Desaulniers
Our 2007 Membership Drive has just kicked off! Log on to the Elizabeth website, look for the Neighborhood Association link and go to Memberships for a membership form. Be sure to sign up for one of our cool committees. Email membership questions to [email protected]. The first 250 members get our 2007 sticker and a goody bag.
the question of cats by Amy Rogers
Does it seem lately there are more stray cats than usual in our area? It’s not your imagination. To find out more about the problem – and solutions – I interviewed Officer Lydia Hernandez of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Control.
Q: What is the difference between a stray and a feral cat?
a: Strays are simply unknown cats. Typically, they are “throwaways” that were once pets. Feral cats are wild; you can’t approach them. They will run away or scratch and bite.
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Q: Are strays and feral cats dangerous?
a: In general, they are less dangerous to humans than to other pets. They can spread diseases such as Feline Leukemia. But if one comes in contact with a rabid raccoon, it can transmit the disease to your pets and to humans.
Q: Are feral cats adoptable?
a: No. Like other wild animals, they cannot be domesticated.
Q: Why are the numbers of stray and feral cats increasing?
a: Well-meaning people put out food for homeless cats; the cats won’t leave because they know they’ll be fed. Bird
feeders also lure hungry cats. Construction causes loss of habitat which displaces wild and homeless animals.
Q: I don’t have cats and I don’t feed strays. Why should I care?
a: Stray and feral cats can become a general health problem. They’ll use your yard as litter box. If not spayed and neutered, they will continue to breed.
Q: What can we do about feral cats?
a: Feral colonies can be managed. The cats can be trapped, spayed, vaccinated and released into an area where a caretaker has agreed to feed them. These managed colonies don’t re-populate. Still, some must be euthanized because of health problems. If you have feral cats, you can request a humane trap from Animal Control.
Q: What can we do about stray cats that are tame?
a: If you feed a stray for 7 days, you are considered its owner; you’re required to vaccinate and license the animal. You can keep it or donate it to Animal Control, which operates a large adoption facility.
For more info, visit www.feralcat.com www.alleycat.org www.friendsofferalfelines.org or call 311 for Char-Meck Animal Control. ph
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