Joy started the meeting and introduced the Board (Joy Rogers, President; Justin Patterson, Treasurer; Leah Hopper, Secretary; Mark Brandon, Community Liason)
31 neighbors and guests were in attendance
Bill Shanabruch of Reedy Creek Environmental LLC was a guest speaker who discussed native plants
Native plants – before European arrival
Invasive plants are plants that disrupt the native ecosystem
Mistaken Identity was a recommended read
He discussed where to plant native plants and encouraged the neighborhood to volunteer with the Invasive Species Task Force to learn how to identify and remove invasive species
He discussed the importance of native planting
Marc Wagner and Joanna Knight of the Department of Historic Resources shared with the neighborhood that we are qualified for the honorary designation of being registered on the National Register Historic District. This designation is just an honor, there are no restrictions as part of this honor.
Neighbor Kirk Mullican submitted the application and it succeeded Board review and can move on to the formal approval process if the neighborhood agrees.
Next steps include the formal application and architectural survey. The City may have funds available to assist with this and the VDHR has a grant program.
Erin and Max of Dominion Energy discussed the Strategic Underground Program which is proposed for parts of Georgia Avenue. They are asking for a 15′ easement and they were available to explain the project in further detail and answer neighbor questions and address concerns.
Concerns included sizes of yards, the large boxes required for every 3-4 homes, among other process concerns
Parke Richeson of Maymont reported on Maymont reported that since our last meeting in March, 5,200 mansion tours have taken place, the nature center has seen 9,800 visitors, and 1800 students for educational programs (500 of which were Title 1 students)
Mutts at Maymont is coming on June 18
Music at Maymont kicks off on June 9 (Guster & the Wood Brothers)
The neighborhood voted unanimously to consider participation in National Night Out on August 2
The neighborhood also voted unanimously to consider hosting a “Maymont Mile” to raise funds for a playground near the skatepark.
REMINDERS: We are always looking for flyer deliverers before meetings and neighborhood walk and talks take place every Wednesday at 7pm (meet on the corner of Greenville and Pennslyvania)
