Community members stated a preference for better Emerald Necklace connections and a dog park in the new acre to be added to Southwest Corridor Park (SWCP) as a side effect of the Casey Arborway project.

As a result of demolishing the Casey Overpass and replacing it with a new Casey Arborway surface street, the park will gain about an acre-and-a-quarter of new land. State Department of Transportation (MassDOT) consultants brought several sketches and ideas to the park’s Parkland Management Advisory Committee (PMAC) meeting on Feb. 6 at the District E-13 Police Station.

The current park is a compact entrance to one of the city’s major parks. Small grassy areas and few benches—mostly used by homeless visitors—do not emphasize the park’s beauty and importance, PMAC President Janet Hunkel said.

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The biggest request was to emphasize the Emerald Necklace connection among the Arnold Arboretum to the west, Franklin Park to the east and the SWCP to the north. Members of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, the SWCP PMAC and the Franklin Park Coalition agreed to host a joint meeting to discuss options as how to best accomplish that goal. That meeting has yet to be scheduled.

While a plaza has been planned to surround a new Forest Hills station subway access point on the park, the size and use of the plaza had not yet been decided. Community members stated a preference for a smaller plaza that allowed more direct bicycle and pedestrian paths through the area.

A dog park was tentatively placed on the northeastern corner of the park, along Washington Street.

State, city and transit police representatives advised the consultants on the importance of easy visibility and how that might translate to landscaping choices like taller trees and fewer shrubs.

The Casey Arborway project is budgeted at $52 million and includes roughly $20 million in improvements, including the park’s makeover.

The Casey Arborway project deisgn community meeting is scheduled for Feb. 27. Demolition of the overpass is expected to begin by the end of the year.

The DuPage County Home Improvement Landscaping Expo is
being held on April 26th -28th, 2013, at The DuPage County
Fairgrounds in Wheaton. Attendees will find over hundreds of local and national
industry experts who can help get those unfinished projects and to do lists
finished while helping make those dreams for the home come true.

The DuPage County Home Improvement Landscaping Expo at The
DuPage County Fairgrounds will include 100’s of exhibits featuring kitchens,
baths, flooring, roofing, windows, doors, heating air, fireplaces, spas
leisure products, sunrooms, landscaping, energy efficient, green products
and much more. Homeowners will have the opportunity to get ideas, inspiration,
estimates and great deals. Exhibitors will have exclusive discounts and coupons
while drawings, giveaways, deals, food, activities for the whole family and much
more will happen throughout the duration of this 3-day event.

Everyone is into home renovations these days and The DuPage County
Home Improvement Landscaping Expo will be sure to have exactly what every
wishful thinker and do-it-yourselfer is looking for. Attendees can expect to
see hundreds of exhibits and top professional representatives from some the
best known local and national home improvement and remodeling companies.
Everything is covered from Basic Services to High-End.

The DuPage County Home Improvement Landscaping Expo will
be held at the The DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Rd., Wheaton, IL 60187 on April 26th, 2013 through April 28th, 2013. Expo
hours are Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00
p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. With free admission and free
parking, this is an event not to miss. For more information on attending or
exhibiting, please visit http://www.HomeShowEvent.com
or call (630) 468-2237.

14 February 2013

Draft Edgeware Village Master Plan
adopted for public comment

Christchurch City Council
today approved the Draft Edgeware Village Master Plan to be
released for public comment. The Council-led Plan has been
prepared to support the recovery and rebuild of Edgeware’s
village centre in response to the damage caused by the
earthquakes.

The Draft Plan will be available from Monday
4 March 2013 to view in any of the Council’s open service
centres and libraries. The final date for written comments
is 5pm on Wednesday 10 April 2013.

City Planning Unit
Manager Brigitte de Ronde says residents, community leaders,
property and business owners have put a lot of hard work and
energy into the development of this Plan and they can now
see how their ideas fit into the rebuild and recovery of the
area.

“Amongst the many initiatives that people are keen
to see in Edgeware Village is a reduction in the speed of
traffic passing through the centre and the beautification of
the centre through additional landscaping and street
furniture. The Plan reflects these ideas by proposing a much
more pedestrian-friendly environment. It also introduces
ideas that can be taken up by business- and land-owners such
as enhancements to the Village Mall to create an indoor
dining/entertainment area and the development of an Edgeware
Village market.”

Mayor Bob Parker says the community and
the Shirley/Papanui Community Board have worked alongside
Council staff to identify the key aspects that local people
value about their village, the things they want improved and
the pivotal role it plays in the life of the
community.

“The Plan incorporates the views and
contributions of the community and builds Edgeware
Village’s identity as an appealing urban village that
offers an intimate shopping experience – perfectly-sized
to service the local neighbourhood. The Plan is all about
creating a liveable, prosperous and vibrant future for this
area,” he says.

To read the Plan as presented to the
Council click here.

www.ccc.govt.nz/suburbancentres

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Water resources engineer Joseph Battiata was driving with his wife in the pouring rain one day, struggling to explain how difficult it is to manage stormwater runoff in ways that protect water quality.

“Where do you think all this water goes?” he asked her finally.

She paused for a second, then replied: “Away.”

• Topics
• 
  
  Conservation
  
• 
  
  Chemical Industry
  
• 
  
  Fertilizer
  
• See more topics »

Battiata drew laughs with that exchange Wednesday morning, but it illustrated the serious, central issue of a two-day statewide summit in Williamsburg: how to educate and convert the public to conservation landscaping — starting in their own backyards.

“Protecting Water Quality Through Actions on Urban-Suburban Properties” brought together an array of stakeholders, from academics and landscapers to conservationists and government representatives, to share experiences and ideas about sustainable funding, model programs, best practices and public outreach and education. It was hosted by the Norfolk-based Wetlands Watch in partnership with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.

Private property owners in Hampton Roads, in particular, can play a crucial role in restoring water quality, living within the 64,000-square-mile watershed but also directly on the bay, which has suffered from nutrient and sediment overload for decades. Virginia is on a federally imposed “pollution diet,” or Total Maximum Daily Load, to reduce pollutants draining into the bay.

Fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture have long been targeted as pollution sources, but summit speakers noted that private property owners also bear responsibility. Among the culprits are common yet environmentally unsound landscaping features such as chemically fertilized lawns, impermeable paving stones and rain gutters that feed stormwater into the street.

Better landscaping options, speakers said, include rain gardens, rain barrels, living shorelines, green roofs, permeable pavers, dry ponds, no or reduced fertilizer use, and replacing grass lawns with native plants and trees.

Adopting even one conservation feature could make a difference, they said, and could be as simple as setting lawnmower blades to a minimum 3 inches, recycling grass clippings or installing a rain barrel.

“We had some success with a rain barrel program,” said Christin Jolicoeur, watershed planner for Arlington County. “What we found was that rain barrels were the gateway drug.” Once homeowners had one, she explained, they were ripe for more buy-in to sustainable landscaping.

But reducing enough residential runoff to make a difference will take buy-in from the public on a massive scale.

“We need tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of homeowner load reductions to make it meaningful,” said Tom Schueler, executive director of the Chesapeake Stormwater Network.

Convincing some homeowners to give up fertilizers won’t be easy, said Battiata, president of the Center for Watershed Protection based in Ellicott City, Md. “It’s like guns in Virginia — ‘You’re not taking my fertilizer away.'”

The challenge is educating the public about their role in the watershed and also empowering them to reduce the amount of runoff that drains off their land and into the bay with every rainfall.

Localities, too, need to be brought up to speed on their new responsibilities. According to Ginny Snead with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, many localities aren’t aware that revised state regulations that went into effect in 2011 require most of them to operate their own local stormwater management program.

Arlington County initiated a pilot project in 2012 called StormwaterWise Landscapes to promote best management practices (BMP) to homeowners, offering soup-to-nuts assistance, Jolicoeur said.

Homeowners applied, sites were assessed and selected. Project plans were submitted, installed and inspected. At the end of the year, homeowners were reimbursed for about half their costs.

Project costs varied, she said, but in general homeowners spent about $500 for conservation landscaping and about $1,000 for features such as rain gardens. Costs are expected to increase in 2013.

The 2012 program budget was $44,000 to service 40 homeowners and maintain part-time staff. For 2013, they’ve lined up $112,000 to service at least 60 homeowners.

Key to a successful program, besides acquiring funding, Jolicoeur said, is providing “a lot” of technical and moral support to homeowners, who are often bewildered by the process.

Nissa Dean, Virginia director for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, said replacing “big, green lawns” with native plants and trees that draw birds and butterflies can be its own reward.

“And know for peace of mind we’re protecting the bay and the rivers that flow into the bay at the same time,” said Dean. “Together, we can get the public to think differently about their backyards.”

Delco Sports Net

Allows community sports teams and leagues to share information about league news, game results, tryout and registration information, etc.

The Rio Vista City Council reappointed two Rio Vista Planning Commissioners and appointed two other residents to the commission that makes development and zoning decisions for the Delta community.

Last week the council interviewed a pool of 10 candidates for the commission vacancies. On Jan. 1, the terms of commissioners Mary Ellen Lamothe and Brent Cohn had expired and they were ultimately reappointed by the council last week.

Newcomer Rolf Sabye and former Rio Vista Mayor Jan Vick were also appointed to the commission. These two openings were due to the recent resignations from the council of new Rio Vista Mayor Norman Richardson and new Rio Vista City Councilman David Hampton.

“It was a very nice pool of applicants,” said Councilman Jim McCracken. “It was a really hard decision to make with so many applicants.”

Cohn said he hopes to continue to use his ideas for the betterment of the city and its residents in terms of redevelopment, neighborhood improvements and quality of life. He is also affiliated with the Rio Vista Public Safety Alliance and Rio Vista Youth Services.

“We have a few really good people who were just appointed also,” he said.

Lamothe said that the city is on the cusp of bringing in architectural expertise that it hopes will bring housing to the city’s scenic waterfront and revitalize the downtown. The small business owner also envisions future landscaping and signage drawing visitors to downtown.

“Rio

Vista really is in need of that,” she said. “I’m hoping to be very involved in that to see some real action happen.”

As a former commissioner, Vick said that she wants to use her civic experience to further support planning in Rio Vista.

Sabye brings 29 years of work experience with BART, including management. He also was a San Ramon Planning Commissioner for four years.

“I would like to see our city grow and prosper in a positive manner for the benefit of all our residents,” he said. “I believe my experience can be of help.”

Reach Paula King at 925-779-7174 or pking@bayareanewsgroup.com.

Mayor Robert Reichert’s plan to revitalize Second Street and connect it to Little Richard Penniman Boulevard has gotten a few changes, presented to Macon City Council on Tuesday night.

Consultants Daniel Foth of CHA/Huntley Partners and Zan Thompson of ZT3 Placemaker Studio ran through the results of a public design discussion from September and meetings in nine neighborhoods along the road’s course. The intent is to make Second Street a real destination, not just an artery for movement, Foth said. One of those features is construction of a tree-lined “Mid-City Square” at the intersection of Second and Pine streets.

Several council members at the nonvoting work session, notably Henry Ficklin, Henry Gibson, Charles Jones and Virgil Watkins, asked for the section of Second Street beyond the “hump bridge” to Eisenhower Parkway to be added to the revitalization plan.

Council could vote to do that, Reichert said, but the point of this plan is to first spend money where it will bring the quickest return.

“We can’t do the whole town in one fell swoop,” he said. “We’re going to try to get to every neighborhood, but you have to start somewhere.”

The November 2011 special purpose local option sales tax included $8 million to build a connector between Second and Penniman. But that’s only the first small step, Reichert said, in what he hopes will be a 30-year process of new infrastructure drawing private investment, with that in turn funding more improvements.

“When you ask me what the total cost of this project is, I have no earthly idea,” Reichert said; but over the years, he hopes it will stimulate $70 million to $100 million in investment.

Thompson said the initial plan’s east end was Emery Highway, but now it connects to Gray Highway. They particularly want to attract tourist venues and hotels to that area, near the existing convention center and Ocmulgee National Monument, he said.

Councilwoman Elaine Lucas, who represents the east side of town, asked if there was any idea of going even further in that direction.

Foth said there were some preliminary designs for landscaping and medians further up Gray Highway, but no definite plan.

“Certainly I think Gray Highway could use some greening,” he said.

On the other end, Thompson said, the plan now goes up Mercer University Drive all the way to Interstate 75. Mercer University is building a football stadium in that area, and late last year the city extended a tax allocation district, or TAD, on the downtown portion of Second to include the area around I-75 as far as Pio Nono Avenue.

The purpose of that TAD is to fund future work in the area through funneling back whatever higher property tax revenue results from the increased value of redevelopment. The expanded section was added primarily to include a $20 million streetcar station; a streetcar line is one of the redevelopment plan’s central features.

Foth said he’ll return in March with a “complete implementation plan” for council’s consideration, including funding ideas for various components along the entire corridor.

To contact writer Jim Gaines, call 744-4489.

Since the dawn of mankind (or the 14th Century — whatever), stuffed teddy bears, long-stemmed roses and candlelit dinners have, for better or for worse, been then currency of love on February 14. While these rituals are a devout yearly tradition for some, other more creative types may desire to give a different, more distinct, and even local, token of their affection.

Here are some creative ideas to get the Valentine’s Day juices — not those kind, wise guy! — flowing.

Great Bean Chocolate

The Aztecs may have believed that there was a link between consuming cacao beans and an increased sexual desire. Scientists, however, have since shut this down. Even if there is no physiological link between chocolate and sexy, there’s still something oddly erogenous (or, at minimum, void-filling) about biting into that particular piece of candy, especially on Valentine’s Day.

Locally, there is an obvious and surprisingly nutritious alternative to the Russell Stover’s route. Great Bean, which is handcrafted in small batches in Austin, is the brainchild of chocolatier Nora Hamerman and partner Dave Peters. Unlike most commercial chocolate, Great Bean’s product is completely raw and sourced only from “nutrient dense, sustainably grown, and fairly traded, cacao” with no soy, GMO, or gluten. Astonishingly, even the packaging is compostable and, in coming years, the company hopes to be entirely carbon neutral. This Valentine’s gift is clearly a no-brainer. 

Charitable Donations

Making a donation to a charity in honor of a loved one is not only an extremely thoughtful present but also a socially conscious one. Think about an issue near and dear to the recipient — animal welfare or children’s literacy — perform some light web research on local non-profits that focus on the cause, and then figure out a way to donate.

Most organizations have pages on their websites that are solely dedicated to soliciting donations and some even offer a fancy certificate in return for any monetary contribution. Even when no such prize is offered, a simple handwritten note or card will do. Check out I Live Here, I Give Here for a comprehensive list of local non-profits.

Custom Succulent Arrangements

Simply put, flowers die and are, therefore, a pretty lousy representation of everlasting love. Within a week of purchasing the trademark red bouquet of roses, rest assured, they will be a browned, wilted and slimy lot.

Living plants, such as the ever-popular and unique succulent varieties, will continue to flourish long past Valentine’s Day, given the proper care and attention. These fleshy, thick-stemmed plants thrive in dry, arid climates and are more durable than, say, the average fern or African violet.

East Austin Succulents, situated in the biodynamic Tillery Park shopping area, is the premiere local provider of custom succulent arrangements, landscaping installments, and individual plants. For the more creative and adventurous types, consider purchasing a lone succulent and potting it in a vintage piece of glassware or ceramic. Local resale and vintage shops such as Top Drawer or Room Service can serve as an excellent source of inspiration.

Personality-filled Local Wares

When in Valentine’s doubt, avoid shopping nationally and stick to local wares. This will add an air of sincerity to the gift and, chances are, make it last a bit longer in both the heart and the physical world. Stuck? Online guides such as Scoutmob are a great source for sussing out the local wheat from the chaff.

Here are some starting points:

Dimovi Shoes. These boots may be Texas-crafted and designed but, trust, they are anything but cowboy. Desert styles range from pink metallic, black leather, grey felt and even animal printed.

Kayci Wheatley. Kayci Wheatley is a South Austin cartoon artist and her designs, such as the ingenious Tupac bow tie or the Pop Art Pee Wee pillow, are as hilarious as they are absolutely necessary.

The Burlap Bag. Forget about “Keep Calm And Carry On,” these artists are blazing new trails with kitschy poster phrasing such as “The Earth Without Art Is Just EH” and “If You Say Gullible Slowly, It Sounds Like Oranges.”

Unlawful Assembly. This unlikely t-shirt shop gets a mention for one and only one shirt alone. Behold, the “Paw McCartney!”

— A small beach neighborhood stuck in the 1950s now sees itself becoming something else — a trendy tourist destination similar to Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road.

The idea is to transform six blocks of Breakers Avenue by adding dining spots, galleries and boutiques to cater to residents and visitors staying at retro resorts and nearby high-rise hotels.

Recent renovations of many small hotels with their mid-century modern architecture are bringing new life and a fresh look to North Beach Village, nestled between the W Hotel and the Bonnet House on the barrier island south of Sunrise Boulevard.

Proximity to the beach is the area’s current drawing card, with little else to appeal to visitors. The neighborhood’s unforgiving streets offer few trees to provide shade, or shops worth walking to.

“The real issue in the whole neighborhood, there’s no pedestrian experience,” said beach businessman Dev Motwani. “You realize what an asphalt jungle it is.”

Developers and local residents are asking the city to make Breakers Avenue an attractive option for pedestrians, bikers and motorists. They’ve suggested ripping out the angled parking spaces that run down the center of the avenue and redoing the street to include shaded sidewalks, parallel parking and bike and travel lanes.

“We’ve spent $70 million in the past two years,” said Karen Johnson, project manager for Swedish investor and developer Par Sanda, the prime mover behind the revitalization. “We’re spending enough money on the buildings, but we need landscape.”

Coming up with the money won’t be easy. The village isn’t within the beach Community Redevelopment Agency borders, and it’s not part of the Beach Business Improvement District, so there is no ready-made supply of cash for a road project.

“We’ve been tied up for 20 years in long-range plans that have done nothing,” said Fred Carlson, a member of the Central Beach Alliance, who lives in the neighborhood.

The city is working to include the ideas within the complete streets proposal it is preparing for commissioners and transportation officials. Inclusion in the plan might make it possible to get federal or state funding, officials said. If not, it’s not clear when the city would have the money to do the work. Or, the project might have to be done piecemeal, a block or two at a time.

Sanda has purchased about 35 lots in the area. His company has completely renovated six complexes and made minor renovations on a half-dozen others, Johnson said.

Two more renovated hotels, the Tranquilo and Tara, are expected to open in the next month, she said, and construction continues on four others.

Tourist Bruce Gottsch, a regular visitor to the area for 10 years, likes what he sees so far.

“I think the things they’ve done to improve it are a whole lot better,” he said.

Gottsch is the type of visitor the city is trying to attract. The New York resident spent a few days in North Beach last week ahead of a Caribbean cruise — and planned a few more days there when the cruise returns.

But at lunchtime on Thursday, there was nothing to keep him in the neighborhood.

“There aren’t that many places to eat,” he said. “I’m going to Wilton Manors to look at the shops out there.”

Sanda’s goal is to keep visitors in the neighborhood.

“We are looking at other properties of ours which we can plan to utilize for retail, galleries and more cafes and restaurants in the future,” Johnson said.

The Bistro outdoor restaurant opened on a vacant lot on Breakers Avenue last year, with planters for landscaping, a food truck for service, and couches and chairs spaced out throughout the lot. Another eatery, the Village Café and Wine Bar, recently opened a few blocks to the south on Breakers.

“Part of the planning vision is to have a lot of outdoor uses,” said Courtney Crush, Sanda’s development attorney.

The Bonnet House, seeing the potential, has plans under way to open a southern entrance to its property at Breakers Avenue. That entrance might be an attraction that also gets people from the larger hotels south of North Beach walking through the neighborhood.

But proponents of change still face resistance from residents like Chad Gibbons, who has lived on Breakers Avenue for 10 years. He likes the quiet lifestyle, doesn’t mind walking north to the shops near Sunrise, or south to the ones at Beach Place.

“To see them try to build it up into a Las Olas or something like that, I can’t imagine anybody would be in favor of it,” Gibbons said. “I wouldn’t want that right in front of me.”

lbarszewski@tribune.com or 954-356-4556

Get inspired to spend more time outdoors at the sixth annual Cy-Fair Home and Garden Show. Experts and exhibitors will share new ideas and products that beautify both the interior and exterior of your home.

The event will be held Saturday and Sunday, February 23 and 24 at the Berry Center, 8877 Barker Cypress Road in Cypress.

Tony Wood, president of Texwood Shows, Inc. and producer of the event, said a small improvement to a yard can make a world of difference.

“When creating your dream home, remember that exterior spaces not only add value to a property but also make a house more welcoming,” he said. “Visually extending the indoors out can make even a smaller home look luxurious.”

Wood said this year’s Cy-Fair Home and Garden Show will be one of the best yet.

“We are especially excited about the Belgard Hardscapes Mobile Display,” he said. “It literally is a semi truck filled with ideas to create your own picture-perfect patio.”

Belgard Hardscapes offers a variety of traditional and antiqued pavers and wall blocks to spruce up driveways, walkways and patios. With a wide selection of colors, shapes and finishes, these products enhance any architectural style from Craftsman to Contemporary and Mission to Mediterranean.

Whether your ideal outdoor living space is one of enclosed intimacy or an open canvas, visit with the pros at Bello Domani Outdoor Designs for ideas on pools, spas, and patios. To complete the picture, stop by the RCW Nurseries, Inc. in-show Garden Center, offering gardening containers and assorted fruit trees at prices especially discounted for the show.

For more creative ideas on how to transform a backyard into a relaxing oasis, be sure to visit the Feature Outdoor Living Exhibit by Custom Outdoors Inc. booth, Wood added.

The booth will feature an a-frame solid roof porch cover with a tongue and groove ceiling, L-shaped outdoor kitchen, water feature, pizza oven and lots of landscaping ideas throughout.

“We have participated in the Cy-Fair Home Garden show for several years, and we are very excited about this show and the busy summer season to come,” Laura Klare, representative of Custom Outdoors said. “The show serves as a great kickoff for the year.”

Klare explained that the company specializes in the installation of beautiful custom backyards.

“We are in our 17th year of building custom swimming pools, outdoor kitchens, shade arbors, waterfalls, fountains, outdoor fireplaces — really anything for the backyard,” she said.

Aspiring green thumbs can also meet Kathy Huber, the Houston Chronicle’s gardening editor, and listen to Randy Lemmon, popular host of AM 740 KTRH’s GardenLine show, who will broadcast live from the show on Saturday until 1 p.m.

“These speakers are renowned for their gardening expertise, and we are thrilled to have them at the event,” Wood said. “This year’s show is truly a fun event for the entire family – with just what it takes to get you started on the right track with your home improvement projects,” added Wood.