General Minutes April 2000

GENERAL MINUTES OF TURNAROUND TEAM MEETING

I. Minutes - February 28, 2000, and March 27, 2000 - Vote to Approve : Minutes of both meetings were distributed. Motion was made and seconded to approve both sets of minutes, motion carried.

II. Old Business

A. Washburn-Lane Parkway Update - David Leamon

David and Joe Swalwell have met with a number of people on the Parkway lighting and landscaping project. They met with Terry Bertels of the City Forestry Department who will tour the Parkway and make recommendations for types of trees and plantings and the placement of the light poles. Jackson's Greenhouse has also recommended types of trees and low-level plantings for the Parkway. They also met with Meg Perry, City of Topeka representative for the Parkway project, regarding the bid solicitation procedure for plants and trees with the CDBG funds granted for the project. Meg was given addresses of houses along the Parkway which are in need of repair. There is money available for paint and exterior repair depending upon the income levels of the homeowners; there is also the Tool Lending Library where the needed tools for home repair may be rented at a low cost. Bill Riphan with the City provided specifications and places to order the light poles. They're meeting with Jeff Hunt of the City Engineer's office later regarding specific placement of the light poles, which be placed approximately 40-45 feet apart. The Parkway will be included in the City's Master Trail Plan, with plans to link it to the Shunga Trail and other trails crossing the entire City. A letter (see attached) was sent to all homeowners and residents along Washburn Avenue from 10th to 12th Streets regarding the plans and upcoming construction. Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of May, 2000.

B. Dillons Report and Proposed Recommendations:

Karen Hiller stated there were 40 people at the 3/27/00 TurnAround Team meeting who participated in the Town Hall style meeting regarding the Dillons Elmhurst Plaza Store. She thanked Pam Mullins for typing all survey results of the breakout groups and completing a combined report and summary of recommendations for the store. A cover letter with the summary and recommendations will be provided to Dillons management; the letter will emphasize how much we appreciate Dillons' presence in Central Topeka and their willingness to work with the TurnAround Team on suggested improvements. The recommendations follow:

Construction of a visual park on the north side of the block along 12th Street with landscaping and flower beds.

Remove the alley entrance from 12th Street.
Arrange for a non-emergency visibility of Police by installing bike racks and a courtesy parking space for police.

This would allow for a meeting place of Bicycle Police and vehicle units during shift changes and report-writing.
Redo the deteriorating pillars in front of the store and de-congest the entryway. If possible, add tables and chairs where people can meet for coffee and sandwiches.
Form a site council for two-way communication between Dillons management and customers regarding products and services.
Paint a mural on the north side of the store with the former Elmhurst Plaza theme and appearance.
Improve professionalism of front-of-store staff and security persona of security personnel.
Improve landscaping around entire perimeter of store.

All five group surveys, the summary, and recommendations will be provided to Dillons management at the next Dillons Team meeting on May 2, 2000. Next steps include 1) acceptance of the land Dillons will donate to the TurnAround Team (north half of Dillons block) and move to develop it into a park (Karen met with Rogers Brazier, Director of Parks and Recreation, who is favorable to turning the land into a park), and 2) painting the mural on the north side of the store. Karen is meeting with Mayor Wagnon this week to discuss the Dillons store and other TurnAround Team general items. She asked for a show-of-hands approval to move forward with the park concept and recommendations to Dillons. All in attendance approved to move forward with the recommendations.

C. Administration: Joe Swalwell announced the TurnAround Team Articles of Incorporation are being updated with the help of Mike Munz, CPA with Wendling, Noe, Nelson, and Johnson. Mike reported he is "straightening out" the paperwork with the Secretary of State's office and then we'll be able to file for our 501(c) 3 application which will allow the TurnAround Team to receive donations which will be tax deductible to the donors.

III. Monroe Historic Site Update, Steve Adams: Steve is Superintendent of the Brown vs. Board of Education Historical

Site, which was established in 1992. Phase One of the site development begins this October with exterior repairs to be finished mid-summer 2001. Phase Two begins October, 2001, with interior repairs, and Phase Three will be interpretation development work. Official opening is scheduled for May, 2003. The 50th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education is May, 2004, and a big celebration will be planned. Cultural Landscape Guidelines are being utilized to assist with bringing the site back to the correct historical design of the time (1954).

IV. TurnAround Team Recognition, Deb Swank: we will recognize a positive movement/improvement of private homes or businesses in our area a couple times a year, this is the first recognition for year 2000. The following are commended for their efforts:

Fannie Brown, who lives at 1169 Lincoln, had a burned and deteriorated home torn down at 1186 Lincoln at her own expense.
Lesia and Woodrow Carter built a new house on a vacant lot at 1031 Jewell in an area where houses had been removed. They are looking at options for another lot just north of 1031 Jewell.
Clark and Susan Duffy purchased a deteriorated home next to 15th and Boswell and had the house torn down. They are developing the area into a neighborhood park with fruit trees, flower, and a garden plot. Four children helped with clearing the lot: Carolyn and Patrick Dittamo, Alex Ginter, and Colin Duffy. The lot may be turned into a croquet site.
College Hill Neighborhood constructed a Wall of Fame in Boswell Park at 13th and Boswell which is the former Boswell Junior High School location; the Wall of Fame is recognition of accomplishments by former and president residents of central Topeka.
Delores Smith and Jan Hathaway purchased the home at 1535 Washburn and are renovating the exterior and interior. They have placed a sign in the front yard noting their renovation in connection with the Washburn-Lane Parkway.
Terry Patterson and a group of veterans developed a garden at 1325 Clay, site of the TR House, which is operated by the Veterans Administration. Terry is the Assistant Manager of the home and he designed some of the garden area on the property to the north of the house. The group is very active in community service including cleanup efforts at Central Park, assisting with a children's Easter egg hunt, and helping neighborhood residents who are unable to do some of the daily jobs such as lawn mowing and house repairs.
Elizabeth Taylor, owner of The Woodward House at 1272 Fillmore, planted trees between the sidewalk and curb along the west and south sides of the corner lot.
Don Kern moved a house from Western Street across from Topeka High School to 1100 Fillmore. The renovation is only partially visible from the outside. The work fits the categories of in-fill housing, renovation of historic property, and beautification to the neighborhood. Mr. Kern is also responsible for other renovations in the neighborhood.
Karen Hiller, 1020 Lane, had her garage door painted into a flowery mural by local artist Ronnie Seik. Pioneer Old Town townhouses were constructed north of Topeka High School by the Ross Freeman Group; there are 181 units at this location and are managed by AIMCO Management Company. Three more properties in Central Topeka will be remodeled: 1243 Western which will require total renovation and will be low-income housing, the Washburn North Apartments at 1526 W. 17th which will be remodeled and be rented half as low-income housing and half as student housing, and the MacVicar Apartments at 2110 MacVicar which will be remodeled and rented half as low-income housing and half as student housing.

V. Announcements

A. Robinson Middle School Family Fun Night: Clardy Vinson announced the April 26th fun night with dinner at 5:30 pm, the Robinson Band performing at 6:30 pm with the Topeka High School drum line, and a "Family Feud" game at 7:00 pm.
B. Central Park Recreation Center: Clardy introduced Bruce Canady, Asst. Director of the Rec Center, and stated our rec centers are one of Topeka's "best-kept secrets". A basketball league was put together several years ago which has been very successful. Recently, Security Benefit Group donated 15 computers to the center and a computer lab will be set up. Volunteers are needed to assist with the computer installation; call Bruce at the Rec Center if you can help with computer set-up or instruction.
C. United Methodist Home, 1100 College: Pam Mullins of the Elmhurst Neighborhood Association announced the Metroplains Company of Minnesota is considering purchasing the Methodist Home for renovation to housing units for seniors. The Methodist Home will move to a new building on the same site as their sister home, Aldersgate, in the near future. Metroplains has an impressive record of purchasing historic buildings and renovating them for senior or low-income housing. They have received awards in Kansas and other central plains states for their excellent renovations. The Elmhurst Neighborhood Association wrote a letter encouraging MetroPlains to purchase the property. Elmhurst Board members contacted other central Topeka entities who also wrote letters of support and encouragement to Metroplains: David Leamon for the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Pastor Jim Congdon for the Topeka Bible Church, Tom Ellis for Washburn University, and Karen Hiller for the TurnAround Team. Metroplains is also considering purchasing the administration building at the old Topeka State Hospital site.

People who are interested in improving the quality and image of Central Topeka, particularly people who live in or own property in the Central Topeka area from Monroe to MacVicar and 21st to the Kansas River, are particularly encouraged to attend. For further information, call 234-2883.