Newsletter

First Anniversary—State of the Neighborhood

Our neighborhood is a great place to live. A number of families are looking to buy here, and several already have or are about to do so.

A walk around the neighborhood this Spring shows what a beautiful place it is. People are out and about, a great deal of fix-up work is going on, yards look gorgeous with all the spring perennials and flowering trees on display, lots of kids are having fun on the new playground equipment in Starin Park.

In just one year, the Historic Starin Park Neighborhood Association has made a real difference by connecting neighbors, opening lines of the communication with the University, and establishing strong ties with the City of Whitewater.

Here are some of the highlights:

• We now have an eye-catching logo, and a beautiful neighborhood brochure for use by visitors, prospective buyers, realtors, and anyone else interested in Whitewater;

• We have an informative website (HSPNA.org);

• We have a positive working relationship with the City and the University, and now have a teamwork approach to solving problems;

• We have persuaded certain interests that upzoning of Prairie Street is not prudent and would be difficult if not impossible to accomplish;

• We have obtained a commitment from the University to install new motors on the exhaust system on Upham Hall, thus eliminating noise pollution;

• We donated $300 to the City for new playground equipment in the Park, and several members helped install it;

• Our Welcome Committee welcomed several new residents to the neighborhood.

• With our support, the City has adopted a “Chronic Nuisance” ordinance (and forms are available on our website);

• We held an enjoyable neighborhood “block party,” attended by over 60 people.

• We are getting a goodly number of new trees for our terraces;

• We are in the process of acquiring stunning neighborhood signs—one large entrance sign to be located at the corner of Main and Franklin, and over 20 smaller signs to be placed throughout the neighborhood. (See the illustration in this newsletter).

The projects we are currently working on include: working with the City on reclaiming derelict properties, offering recommendations on the Starin Road extension project, participating in the Whitewater Wellness Program, exploring the possibility of a University/School District housing incentive program, supporting the City’s efforts to create a more appropriate zoning overlay, and an HSPNA member directory.

Stay on the lookout for the summer meeting in early August and the annual neighborhood block party in early October.

In sum, we have accomplished quite a bit in our first year, and the Historic Starin Park Neighborhood is on the path to soundness and longevity. Ours is a beautiful, interesting, convenient, neighborly place to live. We thank all of our active members for their contribution to our neighborhood. We ask members to invite their neighbors to join us in our efforts to preserve, protect and enhance our neighborhood.

spring 2010