NorthWest Carrollton

It looks as if the shed behind Mrs. Berthalots went up first, there were lots of paint cans and debris in the shed. Fortunatly the Fire Station is next door and they were able to get the fire under control.

The Ugly issue of Dollar General has raised it’s head again here in Northwest Carrollton.

In spite of the fact that we, as a Neighborhood Organization have requested that a perfectly good house not be demolished to make way for this crime magnet

These stores are designed to have minimal employee, square footage ratio, as well as minimal security. Often these stores are manned by young employees.

Here is a quote from a Florida newspaper

While low prices bring in customers, low security may put them in danger. In just the last few weeks, nine Family Dollar and Dollar General stores have been held up in Lake, Volusia and Polk counties.

The developer is attempting to peddle it as a grocery store, just what we don’t need is a promise with out proof. We have been shown no supporting documentation.

We have fought the demolition and will continue to do so.

At this point in time we feel that there is an undue burden being placed on Neighborhood Organizations. We are people who are working to generate a positive future for our City, not one where developers are preying on us. And that is the case here.

The details are not in just yet. But Walgreens has expressed an interest in a more Holistic site design. Working within the Carrollton Overlay and with Roberts Fresh as well as the Neighborhood Organizations. Thanks to all of you who helped in this on both sides of the issue.

In spite of the fact that the Walgreens Corporation has leased property for 8 years and has let it fall into a a state of disrepair.

In spite of the fact that it has become a public nuiscance to the degree that the neighbors next to the site fear for personal safety.

In spite of the fact that we have experienced the worst man made disaster in the History of this Country.

In spite of the fact that we are busy trying to fight for the survival of our Neighborhood with no help from The LRA and our Federal Government.

In spite of the fact that we have asked repeatedly and been lied to repeatedly by Walgreens Corporate offices as well as local representatives.

In spite of all that they want to continue to ignore the Zoning Laws of this City.

Time for a change

I went down to City Hall with a letter from the Neighborhood Organization in regards to the demolition of the Earhart House.

It was decided that they may not tear the sucka down. Soo Hooray for now.

After these last few weeks I am taking a nice short vacation

This from Shelley Miduras website

Walgreen’s at Carrollton & Claiborne

Update coming soon but decision has been deferred until the council meeting on September 7, 2006 while the Councilmember explores other options after being informed that Walgreen’s will not under any circumstances obey the city’s zoning laws and refuses to offer any compromise that will.

I guess that sums up their Good Neighbor Policy

It seems that Walgreens has only seen fit to communicate with our Neighbors across Carrollton. And ignore the fact that the site is within the boundaries of our Neighborhood.

Here is an example of a Dollar General

This is the house they are proposing to teardown to build the Dollar General

Just a quick post to let everyone know that there is a proposal to demolish this house The house is located at 8300 Earhart. You can see the proximity to Carrollton Ave.

In order to create a Parking Lot and build a Dollar General
Much like this Stay Tuned

Thanks to Andy for pointing out that I had written General Dollar and not Dollar General

Somedays it seems that we are engaged in a never ending war. There are those that would like to simply say that any development is fine. That whatever and whoever wants to build is better than what we have.

There are those of us in the Neighborhood who would just as soon see the Taco Truck, The Produce Man and The Tower of Rugs if that is the threat. The other threat we have recieved is if they have to build according to the Carrollton Overlay we will get an ugly building. Why? Is there a law that says if you do not get your way than create a hostile and ugly building.

If the local folks that are behind this have a tremendous love for the City, as was stated numerous times by Mr. Kolb. Then he would want to encourage the best development possible. Not just for those of us who live here, but for those who drive by that intersection everyday.

One of our local Bloggers has summed it up far better than I could and I say the Battle Continues

While researching this issue I found an interesting comparison between our struggle here and one in another city

What else is interesting is that in that community the developers also purchased Residential Property , demolished it and have tipped the Neighborhood into a Commercial District. The problem with this is if your property has been converted to Commercial you may see an increase in value. If you are the poor slob who just lost your Neighbor and have ended up with a Stalag Parking lot next door your property values plummet. Nice touch.

Before the Storm, Pivach Perino bought residential property , bulldozed the houses with NO NOTIFICATION and while they wait for a parking lot to be built have given permission to Fema to dump  waste there.

One day I saw the Attorney for Walgreens at the site. He assured me that they were going to clean up the piles of junk, tires, abandoned cars and garbage that litter the site. That was almost 2 months ago. We see no progress.

For some reason the Walgreens Corporation wants us to believe that they are operating in good Faith. In fact we were told that if we played our cards right they would install a gazebo in Palmer Park.

Thanks but no Thanks Walgreens

A friend sent me this link, Seems that we are not the only ones who are upset about the vacant spaces, and the lack of commitment to our Community. When a company sucks the life out of a Neighborhood the vibrations are felt for blocks. When a company send the message that we are not wealthy enough or important enough to be considered, we hear it loud and clear.

Almost a year has passed, and everyday it seems we hear another story coming out of Our Neighborhood about a loss, a death or a life made difficult.

A few of us from the Neighborhood spent last night walking, we walked on the street where there was a murder, we will not give up. We met up with a family that lives there. The husband was born there and his Grandma died there during the storm. They are working on the house and have dreams for their Commercial Property.

If the City can not save Apple Street then the City can not save St. Charles or Prytania or Newcomb Blvd.

So now we have to listen to Bryan Batt spread misinformation

Of course we would expect The Batt Boys to paint a simple version of the facts as regards to The Corner of Claiborne and Carrollton. Jay was never much fond of the facts, the Neighborhood or the fact that what is going on is that we oppose the Site Plan. Build what you like, obey the laws.. Jay ..you lost.

Bryan, while I know that you divide your time anyone who is not living here full time in a flooded Neighborhood, can not begin to feel what this FEELS like.

As far as linking 9/11 and Terrorism, shame on you. It is a sick mind that would calll victims of this Man Made disaster Terrorists.

Notes from last weeks meeting

We agreed that a letter be
written requesting that a moratorium be placed on the granting of
variances in the Carrollton area (which includes the North West
Carrollton area) pending the outcome of the City Master planning process
particularly, and specifically, on variances from the Carrollton
overlay, changes in zoning from residential to commercial, and increases
in density

Post Katrina has brought lots of excuses. Our less than tidy Commercial Neighbors have used the Katrina excuse more than anyone. This propery at the corner of Carrollton and Claiborne is a great example. In spite of the fact that they are collecting large rents they have allowed the property to become a dump site.

This paticular piece of property has been leased for 7 years from Pivach Realty to Walgreens

The obvious disregard for the people who live here, work here and try and raise children here is an appalling affront.

We have been told that Pivach Realty has also bought the remaining structures on site and will bulldoze them. In spite of the fact that these homes are in sad shape I feel we should protest the demolition. This tactic of demolition is one way to destroy the scale of the Neighborhood, create a new scale and destroy the value and lives of those who stay.

Many times in this debate people have brought up the Veterans Blvd. comparison. I feel a better comparison would be Claiborne Ave.

This once vital Avenue has seen the destruction wrought by I10 and subsequent development.

Can Claiborne Ave be brought back? I would like to think it can, I know that it should

When we destroy a Street Scape we do more than destroy a visual connection to the past. We destroy our Culture.

There are those that believe our entire Neighborhood to be “full of blight” believe me I have recieved e mails from them.I would suggest that the actions of our Commercial Neighbor have done nothing to improve our Neighborhood in fact it has slowly sucked the life from it.

If Walgreens and Pivach Realty is interested in the Rebuilding of this City and Neighborhood. They would endevour to do the homework neccessary to create a vibrant commercial enviroment, one that serves not just the cars whizzing by but the pedestrains, bike riders and children who live here.

We, the Citizens of New Orleans deserve better.

One of our members was interviewed today at a Mid City Planning Meeting. We had sent representatives to the meeting to adress the shared concern of the Carrollton Claibore Walgreens Development. The folks in Mid City feel that the development at that corner will affect the developments made at the corner of Canal and Claiborne

Stay tuned

Today I am going out to look at examples of NON form based Zoning.

Here is an example of overly aggresive building, out of scale with the Neighborhood.

This is an outdated concept which sacrifices pedestrians to the car. This has been shown to be a drain on the Neighborhood and the economy of the City in general.

Here is an example of what you can expect from form based zoning.

This is the Cafe Courtyard which bridges the Old and the New.

For some reason Bell South has come into our Neighborhood, dumped new equipment and then they leave

While I understand that there are equipment upgrades that must be made, wouldn’t it be nice if they actually finished the job, without encroaching on the homeowner.

Join Shelley Midura on Wednesday June 21. Jesuit High School at Banks and Carrollton 7pm
Enter on Banks Street Side.

We will have the opportunity to review plans for the corner of Claiborne and Carrollton, meet with Council Woman Midura and the Developers of Walgreens.

According to the City Council mandated Planning Effort, we would be assigned a planner.

New Orleans Neighborhood Rebuilding Plan

We met one time with our Planner it was not advertised and not well attended. That was it, meanwhile in other parts of the City ,Planners were working with and educating residents to what possible funding sources could come there way.

It seems illogical that one of the most important Streets in the City Of New Orleans could be left with out a Planner. The Carrollton Overlay protects our Street from City Park to the River and we want to be fully involved in any decisions made on “Our Street”

Walgreen is once again requesting to build a Drug Store at Carrollton and Claiborne, and is requesting a variance of the Carrollton Ave. Inner-city Overlay.* There is no firm commitment at this point that a grocery store will ever be built next to it. Those who have attended the June 15th meeting with Shelley Midura, may wish to update us on any progress that was achieved.

History of the Carrollton Residents fight for a grocery store.
1. An open forum sponsored by Uptown Triangle, Carrollton/Riverbend, Upper Carrollton Residents and MARI was held at Xavier where approximately 60 people went to the microphone and each stated they wanted a grocery store at that corner. The meeting was attended by 90 plus residents The Walgreen developer from Houston, their attorney, Councilman Scott Shea, Alex Heaton, Steve Scalise were present. The event, advertised on widely distributed flyers, was designed to tell Walgreen and Councilman Shea that the neighborhood wanted a grocery store.

2..  Picketing at the site with signs that reflected the neighborhood's overwhelming desire for a grocery store rather than another drug store.  It was carried by the TV media on more than one occasion.

As many recall, who were involved in stopping Walgreen from obtaining a variance of the "Inner City Carrollton Overlay," * the upholding of the Overlay was crucial to the redevelopment of the square, but was not the sole issue. A grocery store for the site had overwhelming neighborhood support for miles around. The position of the neighborhood was to uphold the parking and design requirements of the Overlay and to force the issue of getting a grocery store. Walgreen withdrew their request for a variance and decided to wait out the neighborhood opposition to a variance.

• (The Overlay addresses “setback” requirements on a major thoroughfare, that is, a structure is to be built near the sidewalk with the parking in the rear. This urban design benefits aesthetics of the streetscape with sensitivity to the surrounding residential properties and in this case Palmer Park as well. It also affords convenience for pedestrian traffic. In contrast, a suburban design has parking near the side walk with the building set back behind the parking lot, e.g. Veterans Blvd. The overlay was signed into an ordinance by Peggy Wilson and recommended by the City Planning Commission as a reaction to some unsightly commercial development that had occurred between Earhardt and I-10.)

  3. Petitions numbering approximately 1000 in favor of a grocery store were collected by all neighborhood associations from Broadway and beyond to the Jefferson Parish line and from the Mississippi River to Pritchard Place and Walmsley Ave. Never before had this area collected as many petitions.

  4. Thousands of flyers were distributed announcing several neighborhood meetings to obtain input from residents. All neighborhood associations overwhelmingly supported a grocery store on that site, but would not support a variance of the Carrollton Ave. Overlay design ordinance.. The support for a grocery store at that location was also a major topic in neighborhood association newsletters.

  5. Architectural plans were drawn up by Rodney Dionisio, an architect, and at the time a board member of Carrollton/Riverbend Residents’ Assoc., indicating that both a Walgreen’s Drug Store and a grocery store within the square with parking could be achieved. The design was in compliance with the Overlay and was exhibited at

  several neighborhood meetings. Walgreen refused the offer of the design because they insisted upon building the store behind the parking lot away from Carrollton Ave.

  Note: Was told that there shall be another and perhaps even larger redevelopment in the area of Piccadilly and the Carrollton Shopping Center and perhaps even closer to Earhardt. If the residents allow a variance from the Overlay for Walgreen, it shall set a precedent for a waiver of the Overlay from Claiborne to I-10. Shelley Midura needs to be aware of the possibility of an uglier than ever Carrollton Commercial Strip. This is a complex issue, it involves not only a much needed grocery store, but it also involves the beautification of Carrollton Ave. In the 1960’s, the Lower St. Charles Ave. streetscape became urban blight. It went from beautiful historic mansions and oaks to unsightly commercial buildings set back with concrete parking lots in front. It will take much activism to prevent this from happening to Carrollton Ave.. Please support rebuilding the way that Urban Planners design beautiful cities.

  Thanks to Marilyn Barbera..She has worked on this project for too many years to count

As part of the Walgreens plan for the setbacks at the Canal Villerie site they also have permission to remove the Oaks. We would like to adopt these Trees, take the tar paper out of the branches and give them a chance. Walgreens will be “asked” to replace those trees with Oaks that are at least 16 feet tall…