Neighborhood Dessert/Wine and Meeting, January 31st

Note the date change!  January 31st, 7 p.m.,  1919 Grove Street
For those of you who have never attended,  please come!  We'd love to meet you!

Agenda:

1.   Lexi Winer of the CU Student Government Director of City and Neighborhood Relations would like to visit with us to discuss student/resident relationships, joint projects, etc.
2.  Michele Bishop and I, long time garden leaders for the Community Garden at 20th and Grove, would like to transition the Garden from being under the umbrella of Growing Gardens to being a Goss Grove Neighborhood Association project in parnership with the Transportation Department (which has been de facto the case anyway).  Growing Gardens has been notified that is our intent; we need to discuss as a neighborhood whether there are any reasons NOT to do so.  Growing Gardens is demanding more and more from us and gives us essentially nothing;  all the fees go to them, none to us.  We could do alot with $700/year to keep up the Garden and do our own improvements!
3.  Chris Schutze, a very talented carpenter and craftsman in our neighborhood has designed a Little Free Library that he has offered to build for us.  He would like to show up his design and we would like to discuss location.  Transportation Department has offered to help  with install if needed in the Community Garden.
4.  Discuss brochure (that Jenny will have by then) for neighborhood.
5.  Refresh on street mural?  Who/when/if?

Other items?
Let Jenny know at jenny.devaud@gmail.com

Meeting Minutes: October 18, 2012 , including election results

The meeting was convened at 7 p.m. by co-chair Mary Hey. Eight neighbors were present plus two city staff to talk about the Arapahoe reconstruction project.  Awesome poppy seed cake  and still warm cookies were provided. 

Minutes from last meeting were approved.

Bryant Gonsolves, City of Boulder Transportation Manager, and Noreen Walsh, Senior Transportation Manager, discussed with us the Upcoming construction project on Arapahoe. We had a chance also to give our input and experience.  You can find all kinds of information (history, plans, who to contact, comment form)  here. The new road surface will be concrete.  All the sidewalks will be widened to 6' (except in cases where big trees prevent this, or lack of space, such as by Folsom and Arapahoe by Subway or gas station).  Paving will take place summer 2014 and will take 10 weeks.  One lane will be closed; only eastbound will be allowed.  A storm drain has to be constructed down the center of the road and the road has to rebuilt all the way to its foundation.  Underneath all that asphalt is actually a concrete roadway! 

We gave input on the light placement.  Those of us who were there voted for the stop light to be moved to 21st where most people cross anyway.  Our input was that the light does not really give a time advantage anyway since it doesn't turn until all the traffic is stopped anyway.  We also proposed a pedestrian island where there is currently a third lane that is not used (it's not a turn lane).  You can leave comments on the link which is provided above. There will be another public meeting Jan/Feb 2013. We'll get mailings.

The proposal that Neighborhood Parking Zones be reviewed every 5 years has passed the first hurdle.  It still has to go before City Council, but it looks like that will be what comes out of this. Most neighbors wanted this.

The Community Garden is finishing up its season.  We had a very good group of gardeners who showed up to weed and maintain all the flower beds that all the neighborhood enjoys.  Currently, only the gardeners are taking care of the Park and flower beds adjacent to the Community Garden.  We'd like to see more community volunteerism.  It's a great way to contribute, does not take much time, and makes you feel good.  Usually 3-4 plots open up every year.  If you want a plot, it's time to put in a request to Growing Gardens. 

Projects for 2013.  We discussed various projects which have been raised.  Of course, for something to happen, someone needs to have the passion/initiative to lead it. 

• Little Library.  This is part of a nationwide movement for neighborhoods/individuals to build very small libraries for free take/leave books.  You can read about it here There is one up on 6th close to Chatauqua, which is completely adorable.  We could put it in the Community Garden by the benches, or in front of someone's house.  The Transportation Dept has approved placement in the Garden, but there is concern about vandalism.  We do have a location in front of someone's house, too, if we decide Garden is not the right place.  We could also trial it in the Garden.  Chris, one of our talented and creative neighbors, has volunteered to design and build it.  Jenny is spearheading this effort to get it off the ground in Spring 2013. 
• Kiosk for Community Garden:  Oh my gosh, has this one been on the list forever.  The idea is to have a welcome arch/kiosk as the entrance to the Community Park/Garden.  Wade, who attended the meeting is a builder/carpenter, and he agreed to a one hour brainstorm on this, along with a couple of other people we have in mind.  Plan is to have meeting sometime in January/February 2013.  Jenny to call meeting.
• Meditation Garden:  This is another idea that has been floating about, especially since Naropa is part of our community.  The park at 19th St might be a good location. Jerrie has volunteered to have some discussions with Naropa, as it would be great to have a community project with them. 
• Street Mural Maintenance:  We want our beautiful street mural to stay beautiful! Mary will follow up with Jan on what needs to be done. 
• Neighborhood Brochure:  Be great to have one to pass out to new neighbors.  Jenny wrote one before and has located it.  She'll update it and bring to next meeting for review and comments.
• Other Projects: we do not have sufficient passion for within the volunteer community that attended:  Social events:  These are great but need to be planned by individual neighbors.  There have been several impromptu events around. Neighborhood Cleanup:  Things look pretty good. We see the mural upkeep as important but no one had enthusiasm for organizing a separate cleanup.  Hispanic history in Goss-Grove:  Loren brought up the rich history of the African-American and Hispanics in Goss-Grove.  In recognition of this, an Hispanic group is proposing to the City to rename Canyon Park (across Canyon from us, on 21st) to Emma Martinez Park.  Emma was the reason that that spot of land is a park!  It was going to be developed into apt buildings, but Emma stood up first to save the children's playground and then to have it become a full park.  Loren would like to introduce a motion for the neighborhood to support the renaming at the next meeting.

We have let police visits to the meetings lapse because frankly, we have very little crime here. 

And finally, election results!

First, we thank Mary and Maria for their service as co-chairs over the last year, including the delicious desserts and wine at their home.  This last year was a challenging one for us with all the zoning and we made it with critical help from Jerrie, Michele and others.  We also thank Jerrie as treasurer and Michele as our loyal secretary.

The new officers for the next year are:

Stephen Haydel and Jenny Devaud, co-chairs
Jerrie Hurd:  treasurer
Michele Bishop:  secretary
Diane has offered to provide desserts for our meetings.  Yummy and thank you!

Be sure and thank each of them for volunteering for this service.  Goss Grove is the oldest neighborhood association in Boulder.  Without the volunteers who step up to lead this organization, we would not have the zoning we have, the parking program, a community garden, a street mural or any of the other things you all enjoy.  Think about how you can step up and help out in this community.

Don't know Stephen or Jenny?  Jenny has been a garden leader for the last several years.  She rides her bike every day to Ball Aerospace where she works on physics problems.  She writes poetry and plays flute in her spare time. 

Stephen is often seen in an orange cycling jersey.  He's a software engineer, currently employed but seeking new opportunites!  He also promotes bike races, loves bikes and all things bikes.
They have a little black dog named Portia.  Jenny calls her Pork Chop, with love. 

We hope to see many more of you at our quarterly meetings!  They will continue to be at 7 p.m. and will be wine/ dessert affairs.  We'll let you know when the next one one.  You can contact us by email at jenny.devaud@gmail.com or stephen@haydel.com.
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Goss Grove Needs Your Vote

TIRED of political ads, yard signs, debates etc.
Here's a place where you can see your vote in action!

Join your neighbors this Thursday at 7 p.m. to elect new officers. It's GGNA election time and quarterly meeting. See you at 1919 Grove.

 Same deal -- dessert potluck and wine, plus a lively discussion about a new chair or co-chairs and other officers. More agenda items coming.

Wonderful display on the history of our neighborhood!

Hello Neighbors.




Last night Loren and I went to see the exhibit about the history of

our neighborhood, on display at the Boulder Public Library, downtown

locale, in the exhibit hallway.



It is really worth seeing. It reminds us that our neighborhood history

has strong roots in Mexican American (Chicano/a) history. It was

really powerful to be there with Hispanics who grew up in this

neighborhood and hear them tell stories of how the women ran the

households and stood on the porches watching over the neighborhood and

all its kids. Stories of how the salt miners from New Mexico settled

right here in our very own homes.



The photos are great! I encourage you to go take a look and to

remember those who nurtured this neighborhood before we did. It makes

me love this little enclave of Boulder culture all the more.



Hope you are all having a beautiful fall.



Warmest Regards,

Andrea Montoya.

Party Postponed--Sorry!

Jon and I need to postpone the neighborhood party. Sorry.
It was to be this Monday--Labor Day to celebrate our downsizing . . .
BUT we have 2 sick dogs . . .
Both will be OK, but getting the place clean and keeping it that way with one bloody ear and other problems you don't want described--just isn't going to work for us.
Promise another time for that pulled pork and champagne!!!!
Enjoy Labor Day!

We Are Soooooo Celebrating!!

Time to celebrate winning our downzoning issue.

Time to celebrate the end of summer

Time to celebrate living in Goss-Grove

Time to celebrate being the best neighborhood

Time to celebrate because it's time to celebrate!

Where: Jon and Jerrie Hurd's backyard--2010 Goss Street (little yellow house with the big-big dogs who are not invited)

When: Labor Day--September 3 starting at 5 p.m. until we run out of food and/or beer

What: Jon and Jerrie will provide pulled pork and brats and a bottle of champagne and ice and . . .

YOU bring whatever else you want to eat or drink

Come one--come all.

RSVP: jerrie@jerriehurd.com 

303 444 3475

We Are SOOOOO Downzoned!!!

Boulder City Council approves Goss Grove downzoning

By Erica Meltzer Camera Staff Writer

Posted:   08/07/2012 09:41:24 PM MDT

Updated:   08/07/2012 09:51:19 PM MDT

The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved a rezoning in Goss Grove that is designed to preserve the existing mix of multi-unit and single-family housing and prevent more apartment buildings from being built in the central Boulder neighborhood.
The area will be downzoned from high-density residential to mixed residential, which will make it harder for multi-unit buildings to be built there.
The area targeted for rezoning lies roughly between 16th and 23rd streets and between Arapahoe Avenue and Canyon Boulevard, though the boundaries snake around property lines to pull in or exclude additional lots.
Nearly two dozen residents attended the City Council meeting to express support for the rezoning. They said the mix of long-term residents in single-family homes and students in rental properties is just right and that if more apartment buildings are built in the area, it will be harder for the "anchor families" to set the right tone.
One property owner asked to be excluded from the downzoning because his two rental properties are surrounded by apartment buildings.
Naropa University, which lies just outside the downzoned area, expressed opposition to the rezoning in a letter. Naropa officials said the measure will make it harder to create more student housing for the Buddhist university.
An amendment to exclude the property owner was defeated 5-4. The council members then voted unanimously to approve the downzoning.
Several City Council members said they want Naropa to stay in central Boulder and want to work with the university to meet its needs.