Historical November 1986 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The October 6 meeting of the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council was held in the Council’s office. Present were members Neville Vatcha, Kathy Wobus, Ginny Klevorn, Georgia Fox, Karleen Hoerr, Jim McCleod, Kathleen Hamilton, John Reilly and Frank Burke, who represented Bob Dowgwillo. Visitors were Shirley Polk, Sandy Rothschild, Dan McGuire, Paul Repetto and Kate Hart. Paul Repetto is the chair of the Council’s Safety Committee.
The majority of the meeting was consumed discussing problem properties with Kate Hart who is the area’s Neighborhood Liaison Officer at the Mayor’s office. High on everyone’s list of problem properties is the Bona Fide station on Skinker.
The most serious complaint is the 46 police “incidents” which have been reported at that address from January to August in 1986.
A number of strategies have tried to encourage those who run that business to be good neighbors and responsible citizens. Paul Repetto is seeking a meeting with the management of the station to strongly impress them with the problems they are causing in the neighborhood around their business.
On the subject of other problem properties, Kate Hart said there were a number of addresses at which the city was working to condemn, board up, and remove derelict cars.
She has been working on closing a boarding house which seems to be operating in the Rosedale Neighborhood area and the police are meeting with tenants of some buildings which have had a rash of crimes in the late summer and early fall. Also on the subject of problem properties, the Council President reported on a meeting which was held in the Nina Place area.
At that meeting were residents and a representative of Pantheon Corporation. Bearden Realtors were not present.
The neighborhood residents were concerned that no improvements were evident in their area.
They felt that the companies should be doing more with the buildings which they own. Specifically agreed to were mowing grass/weeds, securing open buildings, placing the area on the route of the security car which Pantheon runs.
In answer to the area residents’ questions of when the buildings would be ready to rent or buy Pantheon was less specific.
The representative stated that their project on Delmar was using most of the available capital and they were currently doing a feasibility study in light of the new tax laws.
The company assured residents that since they have almost $1.5 million invested in building acquisition in Nina Place, they are not about to abandon it.
Two subjects of a more upbeat nature were discussed on October 6 also.
The Council will undertake its own Christmas neighborhood celebration since Neighborhood Marketing Services will not be sponsoring its “House of the Month” in our area in December.
The suggestions include widening the areas of participation to involve Washington Heights and Parkview, including a lighting contest and other attractions. Georgi Fox is chairing this and Jim McCleod, Kathy Wobus, and Shirley Polk volunteered to help.
The Council’s Home Loan Program will be sponsoring a concert to raise money for the fund. Details are now in the hands of the neighborhood and a great turnout is hoped for.
The proceeds are needed to be used as matching funds and seed money to interest lending institutions in participating in lowinterest loans for home repairs. Sandy Rothschild spoke to the Council about his campaign to help pass Missouri Constitutional Amendment #5 on the November ballot.
He gave specific information and answered questions regarding the mechanics of the amendment.
The Council could not, however, endorse the amendment because of the procedure of notifying all members that an endorsement vote would be taken.
Most members were favorable and offered to support, as individuals, the issue.
The Council members were told of feelers from groups of residents in Washington Heights and Kingsbury Square to organize and affiliate with SDCC.
The Executive Director was instructed to work with these groups and encourage them to seek Council membership.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November 1986.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1986_11.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
