Forest Park / South Avondale (April Newsletter)
FOREST PARK / SOUTH AVONDALE
TUESDAY, April 4, 2023, 6:30 p.m.
Avondale Library
Agenda:
1. Report from South Precinct
2. Parking Variance Parking Modification to allow for 8 off-street parking spaces instead of the required 43 parking spaces for a restaurant. Old Melt location, 4105 4th Av. S.
3. Setback Variance to allow for a covered porch addition to be set back 19.9 feet from the front yard property line instead of the required 25 feet front yard setback. (3400 Altamont Way)
4. Update on Neighborhood Meet and Greet, Pam Murray.
5. Update on 4167 & 4173 Cliff Road Nuisances, Shannon Blankenship
6. Update on efforts to create a sidewalk along Altamont Park, Maury Shevin.
7. Report from Friends of Avondale Park, April Merritt.
8. Report from Birmingham Board of Education, Mary Boehm
9. Report from District 3 City Councilor, Valerie Abbott
10. Report from District 5 City Councilor, Darrel O'Quinn
Brush and Bulk Trash Pick Up Date:
Forest Park / South Avondale
THURSDAY, APRIL 12
https://www.birminghamal.gov/bulktrash
The City of Birmingham has entered phase 2 delivery of the new uniform garbage carts. More than 20,000 carts will be delivered to residences over the next few weeks.
The carts will be distributed equally among the four waste management districts (north, south, east, west). If you have received a cart in the phase 2 delivery, please refer to the information packet included with the cart. You will receive additional information in the mail soon. Read more about the new system and delivery plans at www.birminghamal.gov/pickup.
Please remember to pick up after your pet and avoid disposing of their waste in your neighbor's trash can. Also be mindful of your pet peeing or pooping on your neighbor's lawn, shrubbery and ground cover. Pet urine is toxic to many of our plants.
Forest Park and Avondale Park Historic Districts
Design Review Information
When applying for a building/construction permit, the City's database will alert the clerk if your address is within one of the City's historic districts. If you reside in one of the City's historic districts, construction / renovation projects will likely be subject to Birmingham's design review process. Forest Park / South Avondale Neighborhood has two historically designated districts (Forest Park and Avondale Park). These districts are subject to design review when new construction, renovation, repair, and remodel projects affecting the exterior of any structure located within the historic district boundaries. Research has show that property values are greater for homes located in historic districts, especially districts that are subject to design review.
When City permitting personnel determines that your proposed renovation/construction project is within a historic district, you will be referred to City's design review personnel for a determination if the repairs, construction etc. are subject to review by the City and local design review committees.
If your case is subject to design review, you will be given a date to present your case to the City's design review committee. You will also be referred to your local "Neighborhood" committee for review. The local committee will review your case prior to the date set for review by the City's committee and make recommendations to the City Design Review Board.
Local design review committees are made up of historic district residents with the requirement that at least 2 members of the committee are architects. Local committees make findings and recommendations that are submitted to the City committee. The findings and recommendations of the local committee are binding and can only be overturned by a two thirds majority of the City's design review committee.
As a word of caution, if you think your residence is located within one of Forest Park / South Avondale Neighborhood's Historic Districts, DO NOT purchase materials or commence exterior renovations/construction prior to a determination whether your project is subject to the City's design review process. If your materials / design are not approved during the process, you may not be able to recoup the expense for materials and / or construction labor.
Forest Park Design Review Committee Interim Chairman
Jeff McGee - jeffmcgeefpsa@aol.com (205) 999 3185
Avondale Park Design Review Committee Chairman
Jeff McGee - jeffmcgeefpsa@aol.com (205) 999 3185
Avondale Park Historic District Map
https://gisweb.birminghamal.gov/StandardMaps/Historic/AvondalePark.pdf
Forest Park / South Avondale (March Newsletter)
Agenda:
1. Report from South Precinct
2. Setback Variance recommendation to construct a deck on the side yard of 4348 Cliff Road. Requesting 4’ setback instead of 5’ in a side yard.
3. Update on Neighborhood Meet and Greet, Pam Murray.
4. Update on 4167 & 4173 Cliff Road Nuisances, Shannon Blankenship
5. Presentation about upcoming Birmingham Folk Festival, Robyn White.
6. Update on efforts to create a sidewalk along Altamont Park, Maury Shevin.
7. Report from Friends of Avondale Park, April Merritt.
8. Report from Birmingham Board of Education, Mary Boehm
9. Report from District 3 City Councilor, Valerie Abbott
10. Report from District 5 City Councilor, Darrel O'Quinn
Forest Park South Avondale
Neighborhood Association Meeting minutes
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023
Avondale Library
The meeting was called to order by President, Jeff McGee, at 6:32pm.
Lt. Middleton and 3 other officers were present from our neighborhood FireStation #10/22. The Lt. reported that they responded to 378 calls last month. February is Fire Safety Awareness Month, and she offered the following tips: “Curious kids set fires.” Supervise kids, particularly those under 14, who are at higher risk for injury and death due to fire. Check your smoke detectors to ensure the batteries are fresh and the detector is less than 10 years old. In response to questions, Lt. Middleton discussed the 10 year lifespan of detectors, confirmed the Fire Dept will provide you with a smoke detector if you do not have one, and reassured those present that the detectors are safe to dispose of in the trash. The address of the Station House is 4425 5th Ave. So. Further discussion of the chirping sound of a failing detector revealed that a distinctive chirp may indicate the end of a detector’s lifespan. If your home has both battery and hard wired detectors, a series of chirps often occurs and can be fixed with new batteries and a hard reset.
Ms. Carla, Avondale’s beloved Children’s Librarian, informed neighbors of an upcoming special event at Avondale Library. Sunday, Feb. 26th, from 2-3pm, Dr. Wayne Flint will be present to discuss his book Afternoons with Harper Lee. Books will be available for purchase and signing. In addition, Ms Carla reminded neighbors that Avondale Library offers US Passport services, including photos and paperwork processing.
Neighbor Pam Murray spoke to neighbors about her wish to help create a social hour/mixer in conjunction with the neighborhood meetings. Her hope is that this would lead to more community interaction and involvement. FOAP successfully hosted a membership meet and greet at Parkside last month, and Ms Murray will follow up with Parkside to explore some similar type of gathering following a NA meeting in the future.
Maury Shevin informed neighbors that he and others have been discussing the possibility of a sidewalk along Altamont Road from the curve in front of the School entrance to the belvedere. The sidewalk is needed for safety as well as enjoyment of the neighborhood. Mr Shevin has been speaking with our City Council Representatives and will keep the neighborhood informed as the efforts evolve.
Tom Cosby addressed neighbors regarding the on-going efforts to educate people about the benefits of switching to battery pack driven leaf blowers. Mr Cosby brought a $250 leaf blower he had purchased from Amazon for people to inspect and that he assured folks does the job of blowing his yard perfectly well. He further spoke of all the negatives surrounding gas powered blowers: the harm it does to those who operate the blowers, the air pollution they create, and the obnoxious noise associated with their constant use. 62 neighbors have signed on to commit to battery pack blowers, and 20 yard sign have been distributed supporting the movement away from gas powered blowers. Mr Cosby urged neighbors to join he and others in saying “No More” to the nuisance blowers.
Elizabeth Lasseter reminded neighbors that she appeared before us last Fall asking for support for the revitalized Movies in Avondale Park. The Fall series was a big success, and the Amphitheater was filled with neighbors and their families enjoying the film series. Ms Lasseter thanked the neighborhood on behalf of the organizers for their support. This year, Ms Lasseter and her committee are seeking to provide a Summer series for families as well as a Fall series for date nights. A total of 8 nights of films will be screened at the Park, with free admission, food trucks and loads of fun. The dates for the June series are June 8, 15, 22 and 29. Neighbors can follow on social media for further plans as they unfold: on Facebook at Movies At Avondale Park, on Instagram @avondalemovies. Ms Lassiter requested $5000 from the Neighborhood to help fund the film series. The Advisory Committee recommended support for the Movies in Avondale Park’s request. Martha Council made a motion to approve the request for $5000. Maury Shevin seconded the request. There being no further questions, all voted in favor of the request with no objections.
Ms Lasseter also provided the neighbors with an update on the Friends of Avondale Park (FOAP). They have new software “Join IT” which will push emails out to remind members of renewal anniversaries. Efforts are underway to streamline the reservation process so that its easier for neighbors to reserve the amphitheater, rose garden, etc for special events. A park clean up is scheduled for Feb 11th at 10am. The meeting place is in the fields behind the amphitheater and the focus is on cleaning up the trails. FOAP Board members serve for one year. At the end of May, they will again be looking for interested neighbors who would like to serve. There are currently 11 members on the Board. In response to a question, Ms Lasseter confirmed by subsequent email that there are 348 members in FOAP. Martha Council announced that the Miss Fancy statue will hopefully be lighted by week’s end. In response to a question, Ms Lasseter discussed ongoing efforts to preserve the remnant forest contained within Avondale Park. These trees are estimated to be thousands of years old, and their preservation requires controlling the invasive species also found in the forest. FOAP’s landscape committee is discussing maintenance of native species in the forest as well as rose garden, and the efforts are part of their long range planning. Membership dues are vital for keeping such plans going - please join or renew your FOAP membership.
Jay Smith updated neighbors on the Triangle Park restoration committee. A new 501(c)(3) entity has been formed which will have the ability to absorb donations for the renovations. Once the tax exempt status is secured, the committee is seeking to hire McNally Land Design to draw renderings and proposals for renovation of the park. Mr Smith will continue to update neighbors as the project rolls forward.
Mary Boehm, our Birmingham City School Board representative, shared her grief over the recent incidents of gun violence in BCS. There are some efforts underway to combat the violence: The City of Birmingham provided $1 million for conflict resolution programming in middle and high schools. Youth and Peace in Action (YPA) workshops allowed for leadership/networking opportunities for students. And the Woodlawn Association Youth Society was formed to allow students to have a voice not only in schools, but in their community. In other news, the City is building a new pre-k center in North Roebuck. The pre-k program at Avondale Elementary has been very successful and we hope to add an additional classroom there as well. Next week, BCS will be placing classroom aides in the most challenged schools. We are also celebrating Ramsay’s debate team (supported by Impact America) which traveled to Atlanta for a regional tournament and Ramsey’s football team which won the State 5A Championship. 3 senior scholar athletes from Ramsey announced their signing with college football programs last week. Ms Boehm provided data from the State Department of Education on Avondale School. Currently, the overall score is 73/C. Ms Boehm feels confident we can raise the score to a B and requests neighborhood help. A major challenge for BCS is chronic absenteeism. Avondale needs volunteers to call parents to find out why a child is absent, and encourage families to make attendance a priority. Avondale has a wish list for the neighborhood to consider: Trips to the Children’s Theatre to see plays ($6000/semester), Self-defense/karate classes after school ($3000 for the year), and paid tutors for after school clubs such as chess, lego robotics, etc ($3000/year). In addition, volunteers are needed to help late students get checked in (8-8:30, weekday mornings), as library helpers, as readers for classrooms, as teacher helpers, and as after-care helpers. Snack angels (who bring snacks to teachers) are also needed. If you cannot volunteer but would like to contribute financially to after-school programs, snacks and teacher support, Venmo @avondalepta (memo volunteer help) or mail a check to the Avondale PTA to 4000 8th Ct S, Birmingham, AL 35222
Ms Boehm shared that she volunteers weekly as a STAIR reading volunteer. The time she spends with her student is a highlight of her week, and the commitment is easy to work in to her schedule. Folks are encouraged to get involved.
On a side note, Ms Boehm reported (as a neighbor) on the status of her residential solar panels. Yesterday, 75% of the energy she used in her home came from one solar panel on her house. Ms Boehm thanked the neighborhood for its support of her efforts, admitted it had been challenging and encouraged anyone with questions about installing solar energy on their homes to reach out to her.
City Councilor Valerie Abbott stated Council day went smoothly earlier. The Mayor announced that the Critical Repairs Program has increased funding this year and they are looking to help qualified low income residents pay for repairs to their homes. Neighbors can check the City website for more information. Repairs include roof repair, wheelchair ramp access, etc, up to $30k, and they are looking to help 250 people this year. The American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) has loosened and may now include such projects as park and sidewalk repair. Ms Abbott has used the bulk of her funds to address the flooding issues in district 3 but the remaining funds will be directed towards projects such as the sidewalk proposed for Altamont Rd and Triangle Park’s renovation, as well as other similar projects throughout district 3. It is helpful that private funding is being discussed that will match the government funding. Ms Abbott’s office has been receiving multiple calls about dogs running loose, killing cats. She reminds neighbors that dogs and cats are both by law to be kept on leash, and not allowed to run free in our neighborhoods. In response to a question regarding the City’s $80 million surplus, Councilor Abbott stated that the budget is a conservative projection based on best guesses as to how much monies licenses, fees, etc will come in for the year. In addition, the Mayor controls the budget, so she does not have specifics as to the surplus in that he has not shared such details with her. In response to another question, Councilor Abbott stated that the City legal team continues to work on the short term rental ordinance, and nothing new has come before her.
City Councilor O’Quinn’s representative, Kim Phillips, presented neighbors with a packet of information they can use regarding City announcements. Ms Williams followed up on the Critical Repairs Program discussed previously, and let neighbors know that applications are available in the Library. In addition, Ms Williams provided neighbors with vinyl stickers to place on their trashcans reminding drivers “Keep kids alive Drive 25.”
Shannon Blankenship addressed neighbors about two problematic houses on Cliff Road. Ms Blankenship and her family are suffering from the effects of an abandoned, dilapidated house as well as a vacant house that is being used for massive parties. Ms Blankenship has attempted to address the abandoned house through all City methods, including emailing the Mayor’s office, calling 311, reporting through see, click, fix, speaking with the housing department, the condemnation department, etc etc. The City is currently hearing cases from 2017 on its docket, and she expressed frustration with the system. In regards to the house being used for parties, the police have been called repeatedly due to excessive noise, cars parked in neighbors yards, illegal activities etc. Another neighbor, Debra Bruns, described the dangerous and frightening behavior she witnessed in her own front yard. The owner of the house lives out of the country and has placed the house in trust for his adult daughters. It is believed the boyfriend of one of these daughters is hosting the parties which have hundreds of attendees. Neighbors further provided dates on which the numerous parties have occurred, and detailed descriptions of outrageous behavior by attendees. Discussion followed in which the actions of the homeowners were unanimously condemned and Councilor Abbott promised to send an email to the Mayor and Chief of Police requesting the situation be resolved immediately.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:48pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Crawford
Secretary
Brush and Bulk Trash Pick Up date.
Forest Park / South Avondale
THURSDAY, MARCH 9
https://www.birminghamal.gov/bulktrash
Birmingham Fire and Rescue Department
If you need a smoke detector and installation, give the fire department’s education department a call at 205.254.6560 to set-up an appointment.
Join Friends of Avondale Park
Renew your membership
Friends of Avondale Park is a 501c3, run by an 11-member volunteer board, dedicated to supporting the park as a physical and symbolic anchor of our community. Friends of Avondale Park operates entirely with membership fees and donations. Membership levels are $25 for individuals and $40 for families. A $150 Legacy membership is also available. Corporate sponsorships vary from $500 to $2,000, all of which goes to park maintenance, improvements, and community activities. Corporate sponsorships are all taxdeductible donations. Donations go toward projects such as - Revitalization of the rose garden - Pond cleaning and maintenance - New signage - Membership events - Birmingham Folk Festival - Movies in the Park - Southside Baseball - New shrubs and plants All these goals improve the neighborhood by making the park an attractive feature of the community.However, we currently cannot meet these needs without additional funding. Please visit avondalepark.org to become a member or renew your membership today. Corporate sponsors will be featured in our newsletter, which reaches our 300 plus members on a quarterly basis.
Forest Park and Avondale Park Historic Districts
Design Review Information
When applying for a building/construction permit, the City's database will alert the clerk if your address is within one of the City's historic districts. If you reside in one of the City's historic districts, construction / renovation projects will likely be subject to Birmingham's design review process. Forest Park / South Avondale Neighborhood has two historically designated districts (Forest Park and Avondale Park). These districts are subject to design review when new construction, renovation, repair, and remodel projects affecting the exterior of any structure located within the historic district boundaries. Research has show that property values are greater for homes located in historic districts, especially districts that are subject to design review.
When City permitting personnel determines that your proposed renovation/construction project is within a historic district, you will be referred to City's design review personnel for a determination if the repairs, construction etc. are subject to review by the City and local design review committees.
If your case is subject to design review, you will be given a date to present your case to the City's design review committee. You will also be referred to your local "Neighborhood" committee for review. The local committee will review your case prior to the date set for review by the City's committee and make recommendations to the City Design Review Board.
Local design review committees are made up of historic district residents with the requirement that at least 2 members of the committee are architects. Local committees make findings and recommendations that are submitted to the City committee. The findings and recommendations of the local committee are binding and can only be overturned by a two thirds majority of the City's design review committee.
As a word of caution, if you think your residence is located within one of Forest Park / South Avondale Neighborhood's Historic Districts, DO NOT purchase materials or commence exterior renovations/construction prior to a determination whether your project is subject to the City's design review process. If your materials / design are not approved during the process, you may not be able to recoup the expense for materials and / or construction labor.
Forest Park Design Review Committee Interim Chairman
Jeff McGee - jeffmcgeefpsa@aol.com (205) 999 3185
Avondale Park Design Review Committee Chairman
Jeff McGee - jeffmcgeefpsa@aol.com (205) 999 3185
Avondale Park Historic District Map
https://gisweb.birminghamal.gov/StandardMaps/Historic/AvondalePark.pdf
Forest Park Historic District Map
https://gisweb.birminghamal.gov/StandardMaps/Historic/ForestPark.pdf
Forest Park / South Avondale (Mid January Newsletter)
The February meeting of the Forest Park / South Avondale Neighborhood Association is
Tuesday, February 7, 6:30 p.m.
Avondale Library
Agenda:
1. Report from South Precinct
2. Presentation about Organizing a Neighborhood Meet and Greet, Pam Stories.
3. Report from Friends of Avondale Park
4. Report from Birmingham Board of Education, Mary Boehm
5. Report from District 3 City Councilor, Valerie Abbott
6. Report from District 5 City Councilor, Darrel O'Quinn
Forest Park / South Avondale
Brush and Trash Pick Up date.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20
Missed Pick-up - Dial 311
Report Illegal Dumping - Dial 311
Join Friends of Avondale Park
Renew Your Membership
Friends of Avondale Park is a 501c3, run by an 11-member volunteer board, dedicated to supporting the park as a physical and symbolic anchor of our community. Friends of Avondale Park operates entirely with membership fees and donations. Membership levels are $25 for individuals and $40 for families. A $150 Legacy membership is also available. Corporate sponsorships vary from $500 to $2,000, all of which goes to park maintenance, improvements, and community activities. Corporate sponsorships are all taxdeductible donations. Donations go toward projects such as - Revitalization of the rose garden - Pond cleaning and maintenance - New signage - Membership events - Birmingham Folk Festival - Movies in the Park - Southside Baseball - New shrubs and plants All these goals improve the neighborhood by making the park an attractive feature of the community.However, we currently cannot meet these needs without additional funding. Please visit avondalepark.org to become a member or renew your membership today. Corporate sponsors will be featured in our newsletter, which reaches our 300 plus members on a quarterly basis.
Special thanks to Tom Cosby and Maury Shevin for cleaning up around and painting the cannon on Altamont Road.
Join us on Tuesday, January 24 at Avondale Library to help us prioritize the recommendations in the Draft Southern Area Framework Plan!
Stop by Avondale Library between 5:30pm and 6:30pm on Tuesday, January 24th to learn more about the Draft Southern Area Framework Plan. A formal presentation will be given promptly at 5:30pm. At the meeting you will have the opportunity to give your input that will help set the priority of the Plan's goals and recommended actions via an interactive activity. We hope to see you there!
Click here to review and download the DRAFT Southern Area Framework Plan
Avondale Park Inter-Faith Walk
all faiths welcome
Led by Neal Flum/Avondale United Methodist Church
Every Wednesday (weather permitting)
7:00 AM: Meet at the Rose Garden
Dogs welcome
We’ll pray, Walk for 30 minutes, Share faith, fellowship, and our love of the park
Any questions: avonumcfaithwalk@gmail.com
Birmingham Lists the Streets Part of its $12 Million Paving Plan for 2023
By
Birmingham Times
January 6, 2023
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday finalized its 2023 Street Paving schedule that will improve nearly 250 roads city wide and roughly 43 miles.
The resurfacing plan is part of an estimated $12 million investment that will go toward upgrading streets in Birmingham.
City Council President Wardine Alexander said improvements are scheduled to be made in all nine districts and will impact almost all of the 99 neighborhoods in the city.
“A lot of our streets have aged and so we had a five-year plan where we were already looking to improve streets and paving in different areas. So this $12 million is just for this segment of the five-year plan,” Alexander said.
The council’s vote marks the first step of the project. Now the city is in the bidding process for contractors to do the work. Alexander said construction should start sometime this summer or fall.
To preview District 3 2023 Street Paving list, please click here.
To preview District 5 2023 Street Paving list, please click here.
Forest Park / South Avondale (November Newsletter)
Forest Park / South Avondale
Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 6:30 p.m.
AVONDALE LIBRARY
November agenda items include:
Monthly Report from the South Precinct.
Monthly Report from Friends of Avondale Park, (April Merritt).
Monthly Report from District 3 Board of Education Representative (Mary Boehm)
Monthly Report from District 5 Councilor, (Darrel O'Quinn)
Monthly Report from District 3 Councilor, (Valerie Abbott)
Brush and Trash Pick Up dates.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18
https://www.birminghamal.gov/bulktrash
Missed Pick-up - Dial 311
Report Illegal Dumping - Dial 311
New Miss Fancy statue awaiting final permits for installation in Avondale Park
BYGABBY GERVAIS
After plenty of hard work bringing the bronze, 15-foot Miss Fancy to life, she’s almost ready for her official installation. We caught up with Nelson Grice, the artist behind the new Miss Fancy statue, to find out when we’ll get to see her in all her glory. Keep reading for sneak peek photos and details.
Making Miss Fancy
Bham Now has been keeping up with Miss Fancy’s progress every step of the way and we can’t wait to see the final results. When we last caught up with Nelson, he was in the midst of the final bronze pour for the long-anticipated statue. Since then, he’s been hard at work assembling Miss Fancy’s 146 individual pieces.
“Ted Metz and Hank Simpson were a huge help in assembling the big girl. We completed assembling the pieces at the end of July. Then I welded up all of the seams and by the end of this week, she will be completely finished.”
Nelson Grice, Artist
Based on the real-life Miss Fancy, a beloved elephant who roamed Avondale Park in the early 1900s, this 15-foot statue will be displayed front and center in Avondale Park.
How she came to be
The story of bringing a new Miss Fancy statue to Avondale Park traces back to one of the neighborhood’s most beloved civic leaders, Ron Council. When a smaller Miss Fancy statue in the park was damaged and later disappeared, Ron made it his mission to bring her back to her rightful place.
Tragically, he passed away before he could see Miss Fancy return. So, his wife Martha Council made it her mission to continue his legacy and raise money for a brand new Miss Fancy statue. Grice took on the project and has been bringing the beloved elephant to life ever since.
What are the next steps?
Wondering what exactly needs to happen before we can see Miss Fancy at the entrance of Avondale Park? Nelson filled us in on the next steps.
“Right now we are waiting on permits from the parts board in Birmingham. Once we get our permit, we will begin to excavate the land and pour the footer for the sculpture. Once we pour the footer, we will attach the plates and posts and weld her onto those plates. Then, we will build the pedestal box and pour the final layer of concrete. After that, we will place the stones around the pedestal to match the surrounding columns at the entrance of Avondale Park.”
Nelson Grice, Artist
Keep an eye out for the big reveal
The unveiling of Miss Fancy is scheduled for December 10 at 11:00 a.m
LINK TO BIRMINGHAM NOW STORY With more pics,
https://bhamnow.com/2022/10/24/now-the-news-50m-amphitheater-proposed-for-north-birmingham-avondale-parks-miss-fancy-statue-update-more/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=now-the-news-50m-amphitheater-proposed-for-north-birmingham-avondale-parks-miss-fancy-statue-update-more
CHRISTMAS VILLAGE 2022
DEADLINE TO DONATE GIFTS: NOVEMBER 28
The Samaritan Place Market: A Christmas Village is a shopping experience for invited guests to shop for the children in their home. Avondale Samaritan Place will be transformed into a Christmas market where local community members will be hired to work the shop and new gifts will be available at greatly reduced prices.
Here’s how you can help: You can make a child’s Christmas possible through whichever of the following is most convenient for you:
• Shop at your favorite local toy store and purchase gifts from the suggested shopping list below. Bring your unwrapped gifts to Canterbury or Avondale United Methodist Church before November 28.
• Purchase gifts from our Amazon wish list. Go to https://a.co/e3PrzLx. You can even change the delivery address to CUMC Village, 350 Overbrook Road, Birmingham, AL 35213, and they will ship directly.
• Financial donations are always welcome. These will allow us to shop and fill in with gifts that are needed. Please mark your donations with “Christmas Village” in the memo line, and mail to: Avondale Samaritan Place, 3829 - 5th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35222.
Second Annual BakesGiving:
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Thanksgiving will soon be here, and Avondale Samaritan Place would love to share the season with our neighbors! This FREE community event will feature delicious samplings of the very best sweets of the holidays – cakes, pies, cookies, and other tasty treats. Face painting, a cake walk, crafting tables, and more. Prepare for outstanding family fun!
Download a flyer here: https://bit.ly/3sGIGnq.
CITY OF BIRMINGHAM CODE ENFOCEMENT RESOURCE GUIDE
https://www.birminghamal.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Code_Enforcement_Resource_Guide_Final.pdf ;
The City of Birmingham strives to maintain quality neighborhoods and a clean environment. In an effort to achieve this goal, we are committed to reducing blight by educating our residents, enforcing laws, targeting violators and encouraging ongoing compliance. In some instances, residents may not be aware of the various code and zoning violations that could be occurring on their property or properties around them; and may also need resources on how to address these violations.
The most common code violations include:
• High weeds, trash, junk and debris in yards
• Illegally parked vehicles in a front yard and inoperable vehicles
• Failure to maintain structures
• Businesses using residential property
Code Enforcement Town Hall on September 15th!
Staff Shortages Delay Trash and Brush Pickup in Birmingham
Mayor Randall Woodfin speaks to the City Council. (Source: Facebook livestream)
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin told the City Council on Tuesday that staffing shortages were the root cause of recent delays in bulk trash and brush pickups throughout the city.
Woodfin was responding to a question from District 3 Councilor Valerie Abbott, who said she’d received “tons of calls” from residents upset that their trash had not been picked up on schedule. “We actually have some citizens who wait until the night before, like the law says, to put all their (trash) out, and then nobody comes and picks it up,” she said.
Woodfin said that he had discussed the issue with public works employees, “and what they shared was that it’s not just an equipment problem … We’re short truck drivers.”
The city has worked to improve retention and recruitment in that department, Woodfin said, and has increased the pay rate for bulk trash truck drivers. Even so, the city has had to decrease its bulk trash pickup schedule from twice a month to every three weeks.
Now, Woodfin said, the city is focused on communication, with plans to use social media, the city’s website and 311 services “to communicate to the public and actually be vulnerable and honest enough to say, ‘We missed this date. We’ll make it up to you. We’ll be back.’”
“I expect that gap in hiring will close at some point,” he added. “I expect a lot of this to ease up.”
“We’re still in trouble, but thank you,” Abbott replied.
Forest Park/South Avondale March 2022 Newsletter
Forest Park / South Avondale Neighborhood Association
Tuesday, March 1, 2022, 6:30 p.m.
AVONDALE LIBRARY
Per Mayor Woodfin's Executive Order, Face Masks will be required
March Agenda items include:
1. Monthly Report from the South Precinct
2. Monthly Report from Fire Department
3. Monthly Report from Friends of Avondale Park (Neal Flum)
4. Rose Garden Restoration update (Chris Morrow)
5. Restaurant Retail Liquor License recommendation, “The Goose”, 4100 4th Av. S.
6. Discussion about Noise in the neighborhood related to leaf blowers and a proposed solution to this issue (Tom Cosby)
7. Monthly Report from District 3 Board of Education Representative (Mary Boehm)
8. Monthly Report from District 5 City Councilor, (Darrell O'Quinn)
9. Monthly Report from District 3 City Councilor, (Valerie Abbott)
Forest Park / South Avondale Brush and Trash Pick Up Dates.
TUESDAY, March 8
TUESDAY, March 29
TUESDAY, April 19
https://www.birminghamal.gov/bulktrash
Missed Pick-up - Dial 311
Report Illegal Dumping - Dial 311
Forest Park South Avondale Neighborhood Association
Feb. 1, 2022
Avondale Library
The meeting was called to order by President Jeff McGee at 6:31pm.
No report from Birmingham City Police.
No report from Birmingham Fire Department.
No report from Birmingham Public Works.
President Neal Flum of the Friends of Avondale Park (FOAP) reported on the status of the organization and Park.
We are still at 300 + members
We’ve just added April Merritt of Regions Bank to our board. April will be the chair of our membership committee. She’s already working on a members’ newsletter.
We’ve edited our website to make the process of joining as a member, renewing as a member, or making donations easier avondalepark.org.
New windshield decal for FOAP members available.
We will be holding elections for our board of directors this coming April – May as prescribed by our by-laws. We approved an update to our process at last night’s board meeting. We’ll have a full members meeting on May 16. Location TBD.
If you are interested in serving as a board member or know someone who would be a positive addition to our board, please email us at: info@avondalepark.org
You must be a current FOAP member to vote and/or run for our board of directors.
There’s a significant amount of positive activity and improvements taking place in the park. Chiefly the repair of the drainage and flooding issues in the pond and King’s Spring. Thank you! to Director Shonae Eddins Bennett, Stanley Robinson, and Charles Brundige of Birmingham Parks, Jay Kasten and Nick Sellers of the World Games, and Councilors Abbott and O’Quinn for all the park positivity
If you get a chance, go take a look at the erosion-control project by the cement bench area, west side of the amphitheater, designed and implemented by Eagle Scout Ellis Henderson. The FOAP is considering expanding that project in the future.
Last and certainly not least--great news: the Friends of Avondale Park is partnering with the city of Birmingham to dredge the Avondale Park pond. Making the pond deeper will make it more difficult for sunlight to get to the unwelcome algae, which as you know is unsightly and malodorous. This action should keep us and/or the city from spending close to $2500.00 every three months to treat the algae.
In response to a question, Mr Flum stated that membership dues renewal notices will be emailed to members. The preferred practice however is for all members to renew in January to help this volunteer-led organization run more efficiently. Pay online at avondalepark.org or mail a check.
Avondale Adult Department Librarian Ms Ellen updated the neighborhood on the book drive for Avondale Elementary students. The Library is giving a brand new book to every student participating in the upcoming intersession enrichment reading program offered in partnership with Avondale Elementary. As stated last month by Children’s Librarian Carla Perkins: Due to Covid, in-kind donations of books are not helpful right now. Monetary donations will go much farther, especially because Ms Carla can purchase books through educational wholesalers. If you would like to donate to the book drive, make checks payable to Birmingham Public Library, and put Youth Department/Avondale School in the subject line. Checks may be dropped off at the Library or mailed to Avondale Library attn:Youth Department or Carla Perkins. In other library news, the Avondale Library is offering appointments for AARP tax filing assistance. Appointments are offered on a first come basis and are open to all ages with no income requirements. Call (205)226-4000 to make an appointment. You may also make an appointment for passport processing at the same #, (205)226-4000. In addition, Avondale Library continues to offer quality live and virtual programming for all ages.
Mary Boehm, District 3 Board of Education Representative, reported to neighbors on the City Schools. With great sadness, Ms Boehm stated the City Schools had lost 3 students to gun violence this past month. It’s been very difficult. Some teachers protested the lack of protections available during covid with a sick out, and the Board has been listening and responding to concerns. 5% of teachers have Covid right now. The system has a threshold of 10% infection rate among teachers and schools will be closed accordingly. BCS requires masks, offers vaccination clinics, and tests weekly for Covid. The High Dose Tutorial Program is going well, with 100 university students placed throughout the school system offering tutoring to students in need. The next intersession term will be in March. The Freedom Prep Charter School out of Memphis received a poor rating from an independent reviewer so did not get approval from the Board. They will likely appeal that to Montgomery. And finally, Ramsay Mathematics and Engineering teacher, Jennifer Gilbert, was awarded a $6000 NASA Program Growth Grant for FIRST Robotics Rookie teams. Way to go!
Councilor Darrell O’Quinn acknowledged his new Chief of Staff, Myeisha Hutchinson, reported back to him that we had questions last month regarding the 21st St bridge. As background, he explained that ALDOT proposed an ugly, industrial replacement for the bridge. Citizens objected and we have a much more attractive design now. The bridge is named rainbow bridge after the WWI Rainbow Division. In addition, there is a firefighter memorial plaque honoring lost lives under the bridge which will be preserved. The bridge closed because we cannot constantly supervise traffic to prevent 18 wheelers from crossing over and collapsing the bridge. His office has received positive acceptance of the closure for the most part. Renovation of the bridge is pending. In answer to a question regarding the City’s constant water breaks and torn up roads, Councilor O’Quinn said he is hopeful that BWWB has applied for Federal help. He reminded neighbors that his office cannot help ensure road repairs are done correctly unless they know who made the mess. ALWAYS ask who is doing the work, get a photo if you can- only then can they be held accountable. Temporary patches are supposed to be fixed within 30 days. Our roads are evidence that this routinely does not happen.
Councilor Valerie Abbott reported to neighbors on the City Council meeting she attended earlier in the day. Several political appointments were made. Of note, the World Games are coming and there is hope that the Parks hosting events will get maintenance that they rarely see. Sam Parker stated that there is finally a plan for planting the rose garden in Avondale Park. Councilor Abbott stated that water mains are slowly being replaced around town. No new paving happens in Winter, so don’t expect that til March. The City bids out paving, even patching, so it takes a long time to get the road repaired. Call 311 and report bad roads. Councilor Abbott knows by experience that the City operates by complaint. Nothing gets done unless you complain about it A LOT. Discussion of the City’s new app that will soon replace the 311 telephonic reporting followed. Learn to use it to mount grass roots campaigns to improve our neighborhood roads!
Councilors responded to questions from neighbors. Per trash dumping, Ms Abbott is unaware of any formal program to address roadside trash problems. BPW is short-staffed, volunteers do what they can, when they can. If you witness illegal dumping, snap a picture. It’s a crime. Dr O’Quinn spoke to the Birmingham Rapid Transit status. The City and Council stepped up with money, and there is hope that it may be operational by Summer. The app metered parking in Downtown has not made a huge economic impact over the last year, particularly in light of the pandemic and reduced driving. The Landbank progress has been underwhelming and only 600 properties have been moved. Avondale remains at the end of a long list. There are 20,000+ tax delinquent properties in the City, and taxpayers spend millions to cut weeds and tear down worthless structures. More info at birminghamlandbank.org
There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 7:29pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Crawford
Secretary
Forest Park / South Avondale Neighborhood Association February 2022 Newsletter
Forest Park / South Avondale Neighborhood Association
Tuesday, February 1, 2022,
AVONDALE LIBRARY
Per Mayor Woodfin's Executive Order, Face Masks will be required
February Agenda items include:
1. Monthly Report from the South Precinct
2. Monthly Report from Fire Department
3. Monthly Report from Public Works office, Mary Gunnerson.
4. Monthly Report from Friends of Avondale Park (Neal Flum)
5. Discussion about Noise in the neighborhood related to leaf blowers and a proposed solution to this issue (Tom Cosby)
8. Monthly Report from District 3 Board of Education Representative (Mary Boehm)
9. Monthly Report from District 5 City Councilor, (Darrell O'Quinn)
10. Monthly Report from District 3 City Councilor, (Valerie Abbott)
Forest Park / South Avondale Brush and Trash Pick Up dates.
TUESDAY, February 15
TUESDAY, March 8
TUESDAY, March 29
Missed Pick-up - Dial 311
Report Illegal Dumping - Dial 311
Forest Park South Avondale Neighborhood Association Meeting
Avondale Library
January 4, 2022
The meeting was called to order at 6:30pm by Jeff McGee, president.
No report was submitted by the South Precinct.
No report was submitted by the Fire Department.
No report was submitted by the Public Works Office.
Jeff announced that Neal Flum of Friends of Avondale Park was unable to attend due to illness. Neal reported to Jeff that FOAP has turned in a list of needs to the City, including the serious flooding problems, pond and goose issues. There is some optimism that the pond might be dredged before the World Games.
Martha Council provided an update on the Miss Fancy project. She and Bryan Council have gone before the Park and Rec Board twice, and funding for the project has been approved. Installation has been targeted for March; however supply chain delays may impact the date pushing it back no later than May. The neighborhood had approved allocating funds to the project in a prior meeting. But just to be certain that we comply with all the City requirements, Jeff requested that we again approve the allocation for City records.
A motion was made by Sam Parker to approve the allocation of $5000 to the Miss Fancy Avondale Park Project. The motion was seconded by Martha Council. There being no further discussion, the motion passed all in favor.
Jay Smith was absent due to a celebration honoring his father. Jeff provided an update on the Triangle Park project on his behalf. The soft landing material was delivered by the City and spread by neighborhood volunteers. A neighborhood committee continues to work on improving the Triangle Park for the enjoyment of all, especially our youngsters. More to come on that in future meetings.
Mary Boehm, District 3 Board of Education Representative, reported to neighbors on the City Schools. Right now 5,000 students are enrolled in Intersession Week, a week of extra education and enrichment before the official start of school next week. Avondale Elementary is working with Avondale Library and they are providing storytime for 2nd – 5th graders. In March, the Library will host Book Bingo, and every child will receive a free book.
Carla Perkins, Avondale Library’s Youth Librarian, spoke to neighbors and encouraged us to help them make sure that every child goes home with a new book. Due to Covid, in-kind donations of books are not helpful right now. Monetary donations will go much farther, especially because Ms Carla can purchase books through educational wholesalers. If you would like to donate to the book drive, make checks payable to Birmingham Public Library, and put Youth Department/Avondale School in the subject line. Checks may be dropped off at the Library or mailed to Avondale Library attn:Youth Department or Carla Perkins.
Representative Boehm did not have current covid data to report for BCS, but the plan is to return to in person school, with weekly testing available along with vaccination clinics thanks to a partnership with UAB. She is still investigating the costs of soft landing materials for Avondale Elementary and will report back soon with a request for assistance. They are excited about the mental health financial support from the Mayor’s Office and City Council as well as Jefferson County tax monies collected. A new charter school application from a group out of Memphis is presently under review. Finally, a United Way initiative for high dosage tutoring has begun with tutors from 6 local colleges/universities.
Carla Perkins added that Avondale Library will be hosting the city-wide Summer Reading Kick-Off celebration in Avondale Park this May.
Councilor Valerie Abbott reported to neighbors on the fast City Council meeting she attended earlier in the day. The best news from the meeting was the new 311 call system should be up and running by the end of the first quarter (March). Soon we should be able to check on our 311 reports via a fantastic computer system but in the meantime, always get a confirmation number when you make a report. Councilor Abbott responded to questions. The Council is waiting to see if the Mayor’s Office delivers on its promise to help see their neighborhood projects funded. The 21st St viaduct is underway, and she can check on its progress from Councilor O’Quinn. She remains optimistic about the working abilities of the newly elected Council – they all seem focused on providing services to the citizens of Birmingham. She will follow up with the garbage pilot program in response to concerns about the pick up methods.
Councilor O’Quinn’s new Chief of Staff, Myeisha Hutchinson, introduced herself to the neighborhood. Ms Hutchinson has deep connections to the City and is excited to be back serving the citizens of Birmingham. Her email address is myeisha.hutchinson@birminghamal.gov
She welcomes neighbor questions and requests for assistance.
Final announcements: The World games is looking for 3300 volunteers. The application is on-line. A 20 hour commitment over 2 weeks entitles the volunteer to 8 complimentary tickets.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:12pm.
Create Birmingham 2022 Programs
Costarters
Since Create Birmingham launched CO.STARTERS in 2014, 280+ entrepreneurs have graduated from the program. Many have gone on to launch successful enterprises — from nonprofit ventures to brick-and-mortar shops and food tours.
You can join this network of creative professionals and take your dream job, community venture, side hustle, or creative concept to the next level with long-term support and experience from a team of experts!
Our Winter 2022 cohort begins February 7 and meets every Monday evening from 6:00 - 9:00 pm for 10 weeks. Our priority is removing barriers - and that includes financial hardships. So, costs are based on a sliding scale depending on your household income.
Our cohort is planning to meet in person, masks required, but we recognize there may need to be a change for the safety of our cohort.
ROADMAP GOAL-SETTING WORKSHOP
JANUARY 20 from 8:30 - 10:00 AM
Creative ventures and entrepreneurship aren’t for the faint of heart, but you CAN make a difference. And we can help! Register now for our free, virtual Roadmap Goal Setting Workshop on January 20 from 8:30 - 10:00 am.
Let us walk with you as you set goals for your project and map out how to accomplish what you’re dreaming of! Together, we create Birmingham.
The Embrace Mothers program is a pilot program created for the City of Birmingham to ensure a guaranteed income for single mothers. Approved by the City Council, 110 participants will receive $375 over a 12 month period.
The application process will take place between January and February 2022. Though an exact date has not been determined, the city encourages those interested in participating to continuously check the link below for more information.