Enota Park Parcel Acquisition

Enota Park PetitionThanks to the wide support and strong voices of Westview residents, neighboring communities, political figures and others we are pleased to announce that the Atlanta City Council passed ordinances to acquire the land to create Enota Park!

Atlanta City Council came together for a Special Called Meeting on Monday, August 19, 2013 to review ordinances to acquire parcels using eminent domain for the expansion of Enota Park. The Atlanta BeltLine has spent the last several years negotiating with land owners to acquire land surrounding the current Enota Playlot. While many parcels had been bought through normal means there were some parcels that proved to be challenging to acquire. All those remaining parcels are made up of vacant, overgrown land without any structural improvements. The unanimous votes by City Council will allow progress to be made on this vital park development.

Thank you to all the residents who signed the online petition, raised awareness through door-to-door canvassing, and appeared at the meeting to let their voices be heard.

Download: City Council meeting minutes

KIPP STRIVE Primary Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Date: Tuesday, August 20, 2013
11:00am
Location: KIPP STRIVE Primary, 1444 Lucile Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30310
Details: KIPP Metro Atlanta and KIPP STRIVE Primary School cordially invite you to the Ribbon Cutting ceremony, dedication and reception in honor of our new school building. We would be honored for you to join us as we continue to build on a legacy of love and learning for Southwest Atlanta scholars.

RSVP: RSVP@KIPPSTRIVEPrimary.org

Enota Park Parcel Acquisition

Enota Park – Call for Action

CALL FOR ACTION:

WHAT WE NEED YOU TO DO
Do some or all, just make sure to do at least one!

1. COME TO THE MEETING
Most Important: Come to the August 19th meeting at 6:00pm at Atlanta City Hall. We all need to be there and bring someone with us. Please sign-up to speak. If for some reason you can’t make it, make sure someone goes in your place.

2. SIGN THE PETITION
Sign the online petition, and ask your friends to do the same. They don’t have to live in Westview to support us. If they live in the city, make sure they include their address and district when signing the petition so their City Council representative knows they support this vote.

3. WRITE A EMAIL/LETTER
Write a letter of support for the ordinance and send it to the Atlanta City Council by Friday.

City Council addresses:
ccmitchell@atlantaga.gov
csmith@atlantaga.gov
khall@atlantaga.gov
ilyoung@atlantaga.gov
cwinslow@atlantaga.gov
narchibong@atlantaga.gov
awan@atlantaga.gov
hshook@atlantaga.gov
yadrean@atlantaga.gov
fmoore@atlantaga.gov
cmartin@atlantaga.gov
kbottoms@atlantaga.gov
jmsheperd@atlantaga.gov
mbond@atlantaga.gov
aaronwatson@atlantaga.gov
hlwillis@atlantaga.gov

4. CIRCULATE PETITION
Circulate the paper petition on your street. Give all petitions to Ayana by Sunday, August 18, 2013.

5. CALL
Call 1) your City Council Member and 2) the City Council members on the Community Development & Human Resources Committee. This is the committee who introduced the legislation. Ask for a “Yes” vote on this ordinance. Ask for their support in getting it passed. I.e. – we are asking them to do work behind the scenes to get their legislation passed.

City Council Members on the committee:
Joyce Sheperd (Chair, Comm Dev. & HR Committee Member) Phone: 404-330-6053
Cleta Winslow (Comm Dev. & HR Committee Member) 404-330-6047
Ivory Young (Comm Dev. & HR Committee Member) – 404-330-6046
Kwanzaa Hall (Comm Dev. & HR Committee Member) 404-330-6038
Lamar Willis (Comm Dev. & HR Committee Member) 404-333-6041

BASIC DETAILS

  • Enota Park is the only new construction BeltLine park in our area. It was slated to be one of the first BeltLine parks built, but hasn’t in part because the City of Atlanta cannot acquire the property for various reasons including absentee property owners.
  • The particular parcels impacted by this ordinance have no houses. It is vacant land adjacent to the Atlanta BeltLine corridor near Langhorn and I-20.
  • The seven ordinances up for vote on Monday, August 19, will allow the city to acquire seven parcels by condemnation. The above map shows the parcels in burgundy.
  • Enota Park is part of the Subarea 1 Atlanta BeltLine Master Plan created with the input of many district residents and community stakeholders. It is also part of the Westview Master Plan developed by community residents and approved by the city.
  • The City of Atlanta and the Atlanta BeltLine have been working for a number of years to secure the land needed to build Enota Park.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

BeltLine Southwest Connector Trail

BeltLine Southwest Connector Trail

On August 10, 2013 the official dedication ceremony for the Atlanta BeltLine Southwest Connector Trail took place.

The Southwest Connector Trail is just a few blocks west of the Westview neighborhood and features beautiful meandering walking paths along Utoy creek amidst tree canopy. The trail, which is most conveniently accessed by Westview residents via the dead ends at Westwood Avenue or Rogers Avenue, connects to the Lionel Hampton Trail.

To view photos of the dedication ceremony please visit the Atlanta BeltLine website: http://beltline.org/explore/photos/?setId=72157635047435936

Atlanta BeltLine Mural

Atlanta BeltLine Mural

2013 marked the third year of Art on the BeltLine and also the third year artist Hadley Breckenridge worked on a mural in Westview. In her first year she worked on a colorful mural on a wall along Muse Street, facing the BeltLine corridor. In her second year she painted The Highball, another vibrant mural underneath the Lucile Avenue bridge. In her third year she returned to her first piece and extended it to cover the length of the remaining wall. Breckenridge tackled the large wall thanks to the help of her friends and neighbors, young and old.

To view photos of the mural being painted please visit our Westview Facebook page as well as Hadley Breckenridge’s Facebook page.

KIPP STRIVE Primary Construction

KIPP STRIVE Primary Construction Progress

A lot of progress has been made on the new KIPP STRIVE Primary school building since we last posted about it in November. With approximately one month left to go until the anticipated ribbon-cutting ceremony, the building, classrooms, and character of the school is taking shape. Before long the building will be bustling with children, teachers, and parents. In the meanwhile take a sneak-peek of the construction by visiting our Westview Facebook page.

National Night Out 2013

National Night Out 2013Join your neighbors on Tuesday, August 6th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm for food, music, and public safety awareness! The event will be held at the intersection of South Olympian Way and Waters Drive. The Westview Community Organization and its sponsors will donate hot dogs and beverages. Neighbors are encouraged to contribute buns, sides, and school supplies.

HISTORY
National Night Out, ‘America’s Night Out Against Crime,’ was introduced by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) in 1984 to prevent crime, drugs and violence in cities across America. That first year, 400 communities in 23 states participated in National Night Out. Nationwide, 2.5 million Americans took part in 1984. National Night Out now involves over 37 million people and 15,000 communities from all fifty states, U.S. Territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide.

ABOUT NNO
National Night Out is designed to:

  • Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
  • Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
  • Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
  • Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

INFO
More information about National Night Out can be found at http://www.nationalnightout.org

National Night Out 2013

National Night Out 2013

Join your neighbors on Tuesday, August 6th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm for food, music, and public safety awareness! The event will be held at the intersection of South Olympian Way and Waters Drive. The Westview Community Organization and its sponsors will donate hot dogs and beverages. Neighbors are encouraged to contribute buns, sides, and school supplies.

HISTORY
National Night Out, ‘America’s Night Out Against Crime,’ was introduced by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) in 1984 to prevent crime, drugs and violence in cities across America. That first year, 400 communities in 23 states participated in National Night Out. Nationwide, 2.5 million Americans took part in 1984. National Night Out now involves over 37 million people and 15,000 communities from all fifty states, U.S. Territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide.

ABOUT NNO
National Night Out is designed to:

  • Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
  • Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
  • Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
  • Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

INFO
More information about National Night Out can be found at http://www.nationalnightout.org

Westview Summer Solstice Celebration 2013

Westview Summer Solstice Celebration 2013 Photos

On Saturday, June 22, 2013 Westview held its sixth annual Westview Summer Solstice Celebration. The event once again took place along Muse Street in the northwestern part of the Westview neighborhood, adjacent to the Atlanta BeltLine corridor.

Once again seven grillers battled it out for the title of “Best Chicken/Ribs of Southwest Atlanta” – Beecher-Donnelly, Capitol View, West End Neighborhood Association Residents, West End LGBT Alliance, Kisha representing Westview, and Scott representing Westview. Voters decided the titles for the “Best of 2013” would go to:

Best Pork of Southwest Atlanta – Capitol View
Best Chicken of Southwest Atlanta – West End Neighborhood Association Residents

To view photos of the Westview Summer Solstice Celebration please visit our Westview Facebook page.