A flyer in Plaza Midwood stated that pumpking carving begins tonight for the traditional Elizabeth pumpkin wall. Ask around for location, or visit one of the fine nearby Plaza Midwood restaurants and look for the flyer for details.
The Charlotte Observer covered the forum Tuesday night for political candidates with Eastside residents. You can read the full story here (at least for a couple of weeks).
One highlight for mayoral candidates:
If you become mayor for the next two years, what will be the one clear sign that you have delivered what you promise for east Charlotte?
Pat McCrory: He said his focus is on transportation and public safety, seeking solutions to gang problems that are an issue in east Charlotte. He said he will continue to work for more sidewalks and other amenities to lure economic development. "There is tremendous potential for growth," he said.
Beverly Earle: "If I'm elected the mayor of Charlotte, part of my goal will be to provide a great quality of life for all citizens of Charlotte," she said. "I believe in locking people up who commit crimes." Poking the podium, Earle asked how serious McCrory could be about fighting crime when he vetoed a budget that supported 70 new police positions.
The general fall meeting for the Merry Oaks Neighborhood Association is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, at Merry Oaks Elementary School. Topics will include the regular police report, tree banding, and area development.
Two days later, the annual potlock/social party follows at 6 p.m. Saturday at Cate's house, 2301 Arnold Drive, in the back yard. Bring a portable chair if you have one. If your house number ends in an even number, bring an hors d'oeuvres or side dish; if an odd number, bring a dessert. Someone will be grilling: if you prefer veggie burgers, feel free to bring your own for the grill.
It's a busy time of the year, but the party is a great time to meet diverse neighbors. If you have other commitments, feel free to just drop in briefly and say hi. We have lots of new neighbors, and it's a great way to strengthen community ties.
The party is a fine time for political candidates to visit informally with local voters as well; some might show up.
This map shows residential and mixed-use projects for our part of town in purple. The map goes from the construction on Hawthorne Lane at Independence on the left, to the planned condos at Briar Creek and Independence at the lower right.
Amazing work by a person who goes by the name of Dubone, at Urban Planet. To see more of Dubone's maps from all over Charlotte, showing a boom town from the sky, go to the Charlotte forum of Urban Planet and look for the "Maps of active projects in Central Charlotte" posting.
Some rumors, and I stress rumors, from the Urban Planet forums: Harris Teeter at Central and the Plaza might move to the old Family Dollar site on Central, either to get more space or to relocate during refurbishing of the old store site. And Thomas Street Tavern's lease is soon up, and they'll be relocating to free up the space for condos. Most responders to this rumor thought it was highly unlikely.
If you hear anything further about the Teeter, please pass it on.
A co-worker clued me in that Sunday, Sept. 16, is Mexican Independence Day, or Grito de Dolores.
She grew up in Brownsville, Texas, and said her mother wouldn't let the children out on the streets that day because many people celebrated by shooting off their guns, not unlike the way some people in Gaston County celebrate New Year's Eve.
So watch for fireworks on Sunday. And find good ways to celebrate with Merry Oaks neighbors. Another co-worker suggests these ideas:
"Go eat at a fine Mexican dining establishment. ... I recommend Maria Bonita on Rea Road and the Azteca on Independence in Matthews. Have a few margaritas! Or venture onto Sharon Amity and Central and grab a few tacos. Or tune in to Univision (Ch. 63) on Saturday night to watch the fireworks from Mexico City."
If you want to connect more with our neighbors or work on your Spanish, check out that co-worker's shared blog, Enterese.
(Personal note: Apologies for lack of postings. Life intruded. If you're a Merry Oaks resident who would like to help keep neighbors up to date with news beyond basic Google Group messages, let me know by posting a comment).
Algae and icky ooze clog what little flow remains in Briar Creek near Merry Oaks on Aug. 18.
It's unclear whether the lowness and slowness of the creek are just from the drought. It's possible Charlotte Country Club is using creek water for irrigation; the club built a retaining pond after another recent dry summer, and it's working on renovations for a future event.
Are there any rules or laws about how much water private enterprises can take from public waters? Should there be?
People at Urban Planet are talking about redevelopment plans at 1401 Central Avenue, where The White Rabbit and the gay community center are now.
Site plans call for a travel shop, a hobbies shop, an art studio, and a place called The Blue Goose. In addition, plans call for a coffee shop -- some say Starbucks -- with a rooftop deck for skyline views.
Sources: Urban Planet forums, Providence Group website
Background and opinions are flying about the planned Tuscan development, Duo at CBC, at the Merry Oaks Google group. The development has gone back to the drawing board because the city wants an extension of Briar Creek Road through the property, according to Tom Poston, Merry Oaks Neighborhood Association president.
Try Urban Planet forums as well if you're seeking details about other nearby developments. Posters there are discussing The Vyne, also at Central Avenue and Briar Creek, and how it has billed itself as a gated community.
The quote from The Vyne's website, under "Specifications":
--social space for gathering on the hilltop.
--Opportunities for unstructured play and other activities like picnicking, sunbathing and reading.
--South of The Lawn are lushly planted gardens with plants of a human scale that provide seasonal interest.
--The perimeter edge is softened with hedgerows informally planted with redbuds and dogwoods within a field of wildflowers.
Steve Lyttle in The Charlotte Observer gives an update on development along Central Avenue and talks with neighborhood leaders and developers here.
(Link will die in two weeks likely).
Synopsis:
1. Sunnyside development at Hawthorne, (270 apartments) and future Faison development next to it (high-rise luxury condos).
2. The Vyne and Duo at CBC. Lyttle talks with Rip Ferris of Tuscan, but there's no mention of plans to change the design of Duo because of city requirements to extend Briar Creek into the land. Word has it that plans for Ferris to buy Birchcroft Apartments have stalled or ended.
3. John Nichols of The Nichols Company says the Plaza Midwood definition is spreading out toward Briar Creek Road.
4. Morningside Apartments: Not much new here.
Interesting stats:
"In Charlotte's 2006 Quality of Life Study, the Commonwealth-Morningside area was rated as a community on the rise. House values had climbed 15.7 percent since 2002, compared with a 1.2 percent increase for the city as a whole. Student performance statistics and crime were problem areas.
The student dropout rate in the neighborhood was 17.5 percent, compared to 4.2 percent for the city. And the violent crime rate was four times the city average."
Community police officers probably would be quick to give context to the violent crime numbers. The school numbers are another more complex matter.
Plants donated by neighbors are blooming near the trails at Merry Oaks Elementary. The pink flowers -- cleome -- were volunteers or were seeded by a mystery visitor. Small cleome plants are all over the natural woodland garden near the school, including a row directly next to the trail next to the water pump.
The compost bin, built by some scout volunteers after the Hands On Merry Oaks cleanup, is ready for the school year to start. Some resident rabbits hang out nearby, so it's great that the school has a place to compost without small creatures digging in the pile. Worms welcome.
The general meeting for the Merry Oaks Neighborhood Association is now scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 26, at Merry Oaks Elementary School.
Agenda: Officer Weaver from CMPD to discuss the latest crime statistics; Rip Farris & John Boler from Tuscan Development to discuss plans for the Duo @ Briar Creek development on the old Renfrow property, and possibly Brian Conroy from Mecklenburg Park & Rec to talk about and conduct a walk around of the new Merry Oaks park.
President Tom Poston says,"Still waiting to confirm with one or two more presenters, but that's the agenda to start!"
WCNC provides the crime blotter report on the shots fired at Hillcrest Apartments, 2603 Arnold Drive, on July 16 (Monday night).
Details from the Merry Oaks Google group:
Veronica Dews, site property manager of Hillcrest Apartments,says the shooting occurred between 2 females (non-residents). The police know who the suspects are and others that were involved, who are also non-residents. As of last night (July 16), police were in search of at least 2 individuals. The shooting seems to have been a domestic dispute over a guy.
Officer Weaver thanked Veronica for weighing in.
The good news : Great communication among residents, the manager at nearby apartments and the police. Officer Weaver's participation in the Google group is the best source for up-to-date information. An alternative with a time lag: the Charmeck police website.
More restaurant rumors from the forums at Urban Planet:
1. Little Italy on Central Avenue has been sold to Carraba's, which will tear down the building and build a new restaurant.
2. The nearby McDonald's will close soon and be rebuilt in a more pedestrian-friendly way.
3. (And more like wishful thinking, rather than even a rumor) Wouldn't it be cool if Portofino's was there instead of a chain Italian restaurant?
Please note: these are unsubstantiated rumors. If you have concrete details, please share.
(No reason folks who care about development can't look at pretty pictures at the same time, right? This is a spider lily from a Merry Oaks back yard. It appreciates the recent rains.)
Demolition has begun at the old Morningside Apartments off Morningside Avenue. Pictures from Rumphshaker, originally posted at Urban Planet. The developer for this particular part is Beazer, some say. Beazer has had some issues in the past.
Grading is also going on at Hawthorne Lane near Sunnyside Avenue, just next to the bridge over U.S. 74 connecting Central Avenue with Elizabeth. Word appears to be the development is to be called Woodfield Elizabeth, and is being developed by the remnants of Summit Properties left after Camden bought them. One neighbor said the word is that the project will feature two midrise units with a below-grade parking garage in-between, and it's unclear whether it's an apartment complex or condominiums. Some say the development involves 400 housing units. If anyone knows more, please share information or a link.
Under the Water Tower says that two restaurants will be going in near the new development.
Credit: The forum gossip at Urban Planet is an amazing source for development news. It appears you have to create a login to search, but the site is organized clearly enough that you can locate and read Charlotte information without a login.
Power now restored to all of Merry Oaks, as far as I know.
Neighbors laughed because I called the AC guy early Sunday, but they helped get Duke Power out to deal with our low power problem. We had 120-volt, not 220-volt, because of a broken line. Thanks to the many firefighters and power-line workers during the last couple of days. If you have spare backyard vegetables, take them to a fire station.
Neighbors shared cucumbers, cold lemonade with ice (thanks Addie!) and memories of Hurricane Hugo through the sidewalk network. More amazing than any Google group I've ever seen.
So AC is on, all is cool.
Sidenote: I didn't get a photo, but a glance while driving along Central Avenue into the interior of Birchcroft Apartments on Saturday evening showed much of the parking lot under about a foot of water. Redevelopment of that tract must take runoff into consideration. This storm dumped at least 1.5 inches within three hours Saturday, so it was an unusual event. Still, caveat emptor, and check topography maps.
The fierce storm that blew through Saturday afternoon continues to affect some parts of Merry Oaks.
While the neighborhood as a whole didn't receive the kind of damage other areas received, one double-trunked tulip poplar crushed a shed and damaged a home.
Ancient oaks in Plaza Midwood tumbled with major damage, and one stately tree at Firefighter Place near Lupie's on Monroe Road finally hit the ground.
Some blocks in Merry Oaks have only flickering electricity, with 120-volt power, not enough to make air conditioners or large stoves work.
So Sunday passes with the buzz of chainsaws and lawn mowers, and little movement in the heat.
Imagine what it would be like to have limited electricity all the time.
The plaster walls in most of the brick homes in Merry Oaks present challenges for those doing home improvement projects. Some of the homes in other center-city neighborhoods have the same walls.
Carpenters familiar with the construction techniques explain: The builders put up two by fours, then put in thin horizontal wood strips on top of those. Then they slathered cement -- yes, cement -- on to the thin wood strips. The cement oozed into the small cracks between the wood strips, forming an incredibly tight, strong bond. On top of the rough cement went plaster.
Seems those returning World War II vets wanted bunkers.
So if you plan to put holes in the walls for shelves, art, curtains or crown molding, prepare to use force. The small nail guns with air cartridges and batteries won't necessarily cut it -- but nail guns powered by heavy compressors seem to work well. You can rent the tools at Home Depot, and choose your nails carefully. Steel nails will work, experts say.
Of politics: Merry Oaks is in a small corner of the 8th Congressional District, a seat held by U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes of Cabarrus County. The district lines are oddly drawn, with our corner of East Charlotte and points east lumped in with rural areas in Cabarrus. Mel Watt's 12th District is often less than a mile away for many residents.
Democrats are targeting Hayes in the 2008 race, because he won by only 328 votes over teacher Larry Kissell in the last election. Read Lisa Zagaroli in The Charlotte Observer (link might expire in two weeks) for updates as 2008 nears, and check out new political links here. For official government websites that affect the neighborhood, the Merry Oaks Neighborhood Link website is a great place to start.
Of pumpkins: In a small sunny clearing, surrounded by woods, pumpkins are blooming and growing. It's unclear who planted: I like to think a student at Merry Oaks Elementary stuck the seeds in behind the school. Here's hoping that same student gets to return in the fall to see what summer sun and rain produce. See if you can find the pumpkins on a walk through the new well-used, paved trails near Merry Oaks Elementary. Caveat: it could be squash or zucchini, I'm not completely sure.
Time will tell.
A beer and wine tasting party will be held on Friday, June 29 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. to support Charlotte-based 24 Hours of Booty , which runs the Official 24-Hour Cycling Event of the Lance Armstrong Foundation in Myers Park on July 27-28. The "Hops & Vine" fundraiser will take place at Dillon Natural Health in Elizabeth at 406 Louise Avenue (near 7th and Hawthorne). Tickets cost $15 per person. Details: Christina Dekraay at 704-226-6580 or at christinadekraay AT yahoo.com.
The Merry Oaks Neighborhood Association board had a cybermeeting this month, via email, and agreed on a letter to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Department about Merry Oaks connectivity with Duo at CBC:
The Merry Oaks neighborhood has a strong value around pedestrian, bicycle and public transit use. As evidence, please note that we have successfully lobbied the City and County for in-place ped/bike trails to the adjacent Plaza Midwood neighborhood and to the Merry Oaks School Campus. Many of our residents use the bike lanes and CATS buses on Central Avenue for commuting.
Consistent with this, we strongly support eventual public bicycle and pedestrian connectivity from Tuscan’s proposed development Duo @ BCB to the interior of the neighborhood (Cosby Place). This will allow current residents to more easily walk to CATS buses on Central Avenue. It will also allow Duo @ CBC residents to walk/bicycle to the Briar Creek Greenway/CDOT connector off Arnold Drive which takes them over the creek and through the woods to Plaza Midwood.
However, we do not support a full extension of Briar Creek Road for eventual vehicular access to the interior of the neighborhood.
Be aware that we fully understand and support the City’s connectivity policy with regard to new subdivisions. However, in the case of our existing very small neighborhood, we do not see compelling reasons to add additional vehicular connectivity to the interior of our neighborhood.
---We only have around 450 homes with no possibility for vehicular connectivity to any other neighborhood. Therefore, there is adequate ingress/egress from the neighborhood for our residents.
---Signalized ingress/egress at Briar Creek Road may encourage cut-through traffic from Eastway Drive. While we acknowledge that the connectivity policy exists precisely to provide this kind of option, in this case it could be devastating to the dead-end Cosby Place and other small neighborhood streets.
Tuscan’s plans call for minimizing impervious surface and significant tree save on this heavily forested parcel. We are concerned that a public street would compromise this intention.
Thank you for considering our concerns about this.
