The Mentelle Neighborhood Association had its annual membership meeting Wednesday evening at the Warehouse Block offices, 250 Walter Ave. Twenty-one members attended.
Warehouse Block owner Chad Walker gave an update on his development. Some highlights: He has been working with city traffic engineers on a plan to renovate National Avenue. Plans include more sidewalks, three elevated (like speed bumps) crosswalks on National and a three-way stop at National and North Ashland. Eppings will again have outdoor seating as part of a sidewalk bump-out beside its building. And Walker plans to build a children’s playground behind Mirror Twin Brewing.
Ann Olliges retired after six years as president, and several members thanked her for a job well done. Her tenure has included raising the neighborhood’s profile by installing signs at each entrance. She has taken the lead on solving several neighborhood problems and, most recently, was the chief planner of last month’s successful picnic.
Members elected these officers for the next year: Tom Eblen, president; Shelby Reynolds, vice president; Esther Hurlburt, secretary; Beth Hellebusch, treasurer; and five at-large directors: Katie Mueller, Bill Fortune, Barb Wagner, Laura Beth O’Bryan and Stephanie Poole
Members then discussed several topics of interest and concern. Among them:
- The status of proposed improvements to the Blue Door Smokehouse corner. Ann sent an email last week asking Shilling Properties, the owner of Blue Door’s building and the lot behind it, to attend the meeting and discuss when the changes approved by the city’s Planning Commission in June 2020 would commence. She didn’t get a response. Tom will follow up.
- Several members expressed a desire for more social activities in addition to our three big annual events: the Mardi Gras parade, the Easter egg hunt and the fall picnic. Two popular events we will want to do again are Porch Songs (a band plays on a neighborhood porch) and last week’s family movie night in the Mentelle Park median. While COVID is still making indoor events problematic, there are other things we can do outside in good weather, such as progressive garden or porch parties. Katie Mueller is our new social committee chair. If you are interested in helping her plan and organize social events, click on her name above to email her.
- Barb Wagner said several neighbors have expressed interest in joining her new committee to explore ways for neighborhood residents to become more eco-friendly. If you want to participate, click on her name above to send her an email.
- There were discussions about having a membership drive, because of many newcomers to the neighborhood, and updating our neighborhood membership directory. If you have ideas about that — and especially if you are interested in helping — email Tom Eblen. You also may email him with any other ideas or neighborhood concerns.