ECA Officers Sarah Crowder President 704 502 7866 Greenway Avenue sarahcr@bellsouth.net Evan Kettler Vice President 704 577 4901 North Laurel Avenue evan.kettler@gmail.com Beth Haenni Secretary 704 562 5152 Greenway Avenue beth.haenni@gmail.com Kelly Jaworski Treasurer 828 446 0243 Clarice Avenue kellyruthanne92@gmail.com Melanie Sizemore Past President 704 661 0767 Vail Avenue msizemore@realindex.com
ECA Board Members West Bryant Communications Chair 704 898 5044 East Fifth Street west.bryant@gmail.com Cassandra D’Alessio Business Liaison 704 604 9301 Dotger Avenue cassandra@turnthenextpage.com Paul Freeman Beautification & Trees 704 491 5656 East Fifth Street paul@ freemanlandscapearchitecture.com Phil Grennan At-large 269 598 3718 Greenway Avenue phil@grennanconsulting.com Kathryn Haenni ECA intern Greenway Avenue 2
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Anne Lambert At-large 704 589 9146 Hawthorne Bridge Court chickspeare@hotmail.com Jessica Meyer Traffic Chair 980 333 7044 Greenway Avenue johnsonjcj@yahoo.com John F. McBride Newsletter 980 254 7367 East Eighth Street john.f.mcb@gmail.com Paul Shipley At-Large 704 651 5897 Kenmore Avenue paul.d.shipley@gmail.com Lisa Yagla Social Chair 704 807 1862 Pecan Avenue lyagla@gmail.com Robert Zabel Elizabeth 8K Road Race Chair 917 873 8028 Pecan Avenue nycrcz@yahoo.com_
The ECA Newsletter The ECA newsletter is published quarterly (March, June, September and December) and delivered to homes and businesses in the Elizabeth neighborhood of Charlotte. The production team: John McBride editor Cassandra D’Alessio ad czar Tricia Fisher circulation czar Susan Green editorial assistant and proofreader Little Shiva designer Sir Speedy printer Got a story or photo idea? Want to buy an ad? Email newsletter@ elizabethcommunity.com.
What is ElizabethCares? ElizabethCares is the ECA’s local response to the global pandemic. In March, a committee of dedicated volunteers began considering a plethora of ideas before settling on a series of initiatives under the ElizabethCares banner: Donate: The ECA is giving more than $25,000 to help local healthcare providers and first responders, local small businesses and individuals in need. The total includes funds redirected from the Elizabeth 8K after the 34th annual road race was cancelled by COVID-19, as well as contributions from individual community members. For more information on these donations, see ECA president Sarah Crowder’s and 8K director Rob Zabel’s articles elsewhere in this issue. Free ads: The ECA has made advertising in this issue free to help challenged businesses reach customers. All Elizabeth-based businesses were eligible for a free quarter-page ad, and our existing advertisers get their regular ad gratis. In addition, we have changed the focus of this issue so that advertising, which is normally placed in the last half of the newsletter, will be placed in the first half. We encourage you to read the advertisements carefully and consider, more than ever, the importance of thinking globally but acting locally. Wednesdays with West: If you’re on the Elizabeth families email group, you’re already familiar with ECA communications chair West Bryant’s weekly entertaining emails loaded with Elizabeth news. (This newsletter is not one bit threatened by West’s breezy style and charismatic wit. Not at all.) And if you’re not on the Elizabeth families email group, hop over to www.elizabethcommunity.com and sign up.
contributors Normally in this space we list the names of writers and photographers whose work is in this issue. Instead, for this issue we’re highlighting our advertisers. We hope you’ll consider proximity when you choose to spend your money. ARA Healing
arahealingus.com Betty Little House
charlottecouncilofgardenclubs. business.site Caleb Chitester, handyman
704 221 3190
Carolina Kinder Development
carolinakinderdevelopment.com Cassee Cunningham 5 Points Realty
5pointsrealty.com Central Coffee
centralcoffeeco.com CharlotteLit
charlottelit.org
Children’s Home Society
FazioArt Custom Framing
Plaza Midwood Dentistry
Freeman Landscape Architecture
Rob Hall Pridemore Properties
Gear Goat Xchg Outdoor Consignment
Sabor Latin Street Grill
fazioart.com
freemanlandscapearchitecture.com geargoatx.com
Genevieve Williams Real Estate
genevievewilliams.com
Hawthorne’s New York Pizza & Bar
caldwellpresby.org hlumc.org stjohnsbaptistchurch.org stmartins-charlotte.org Engineering Camp Charlotte 2020
engineeringcampcharlotte.com
safealliance.org
Sheedy Watts
sheedywatts.com Sir Speedy
Solow Design Group
solowdesigngroup.com
Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find
spatherapystudio.com
savvyheather.com heroesonline.com
Ivybrook Academy
ivybrookacademy.com J.F. Jones graphic designer
www.jfj-art.com
Law Office of Kenneth T. Davies
kdavies@kdavies.com
Kim Moseley integrative psychotherapist LoveStream Virtual Weddings by Bustld
Elizabeth Communities of Faith
SafeAlliance
Heather Claxton Savvy+Co Real Estate
ColsenKeane Leather
thecrunkleton.com
saborlatinstreetgrill.com
sirspeedy.com
healthypathways.net
The Crunkleton
pridemoreproperties.com
hawthornespizza.com
chsnc.org
colsenkeane.com
pmdent.com
bustld.com
McColl Center for Art and Innovation
mccollcenter.org
Micki McDonough mental health counselor
704 517 9866
Neatbooks Better Bookkeeping
netbooks.co
Opera Carolina
operacarolina.org
Spa Therapy Studio UPS Store #3468
theupsstore.com/3468 The Violin Shoppe
theviolinshoppe.net
And special thanks to the following Elizabeth 8K sponsors supporting ElizabethCares: Hawthorne’s New York Pizza & Bar Novant Health Crescent Communities Dollar General Fortius Heather Claxton / Savvy + Co. Real Estate Ivybrook Academy Jones Dry Cleaning Lineburger Dentistry St. John’s Baptist Church St. Martin’s Episcopal Church Wilder Pantazis Law Group TreesCharlotte THE BUSINESS SECTION
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From the president: ElizabethCares is the ECA’s response to COVID-19 by Sarah Crowder Along with everyone in Elizabeth, members of the ECA board are struggling with the sudden changes brought on by COVID-19. It’s been hard to be confined at home for weeks, figure out how to work effectively while entertaining children and home schooling, manage meals when it may not be safe to shop, or be isolated from our extended families and friends. Lots of us are sad and worried.
(frontlinefoods.org/charlotte), which operates in partnership with World Central Kitchen. I’m happy to report that within three weeks both these nonprofits had spent 100% of the money we gave them at five different Elizabeth restaurants and hundreds of meals had been delivered to local hospitals. That’s what the board asked them to do, and they delivered! The third organization
is Loaves and Fishes (loavesandfishes.org/covid19response), a well-known Charlotte nonprofit that provides food directly to individuals and other organizations through We also recognize there are small businesses and individuals local food pantries. in Elizabeth who are suffering Next, we contacted all with the loss of customers and sponsors of the Elizabeth 8K financial security. Some busiRoad Race (which should nesses have closed, people have have been run Mar. 23 but fell lost jobs and some are worried victim to COVID-19). We felt it about how to feed their families. only fair to offer our sponsors Even as the state eases restricrefunds, but we also gave them tions, hard times are with us. the option to roll their dollars over to the 2021 race or redirect The ECA board decided to them to ElizabethCares. We take action, starting with a new initiative called ElizabethCares. received an overwhelmingly positive response from our Our first step was on Apr. sponsors. Thirteen of them asked 16. The board approved the us to use their sponsor dollars for donation of $10,000 in ECA ElizabethCares. That added up to funds to three organizations $16,500. What generosity! in Charlotte. Two of them See the list of these amazing coordinate with local restaurants people and businesses elsewhere to provide to first responders: in this issue, near race director Feed the Front Line Rob Zabel’s article. Please Charlotte (ftflcharlotte.com). thank the sponsors (from a safe distance) when you see them. Frontline Foods 18
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With this, the board had the happy task of approving a second round of donations. On May 7, we approved another $10,000 in donations, all for COVID-19 relief efforts, to six organizations: Feed the Front Line Charlotte, the only repeat from
Apr. 16.
Urban Ministry Center
(www.urbanministrycenter.org). The Learning Collaborative (tlccharlotte.
org), a nonprofit in neighboring Grier Heights. Friendship Trays
(friendshiptrays.org).
St. John’s Baptist Church
(stjohnsbaptistchurch.org).
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church (stmartins-charlotte.
org).
We encourage you to support these groups as well. They’re doing important and difficult work. We’re holding the remaining sponsor dollars for 6 to 8 weeks to assess needs at that time before making a third round of donations. If you know of local charitable organizations doing great work for COVID-19 relief, please let me or another board member know. We’ll add them to our list of agencies to research. Another way we wanted to assist our Elizabeth-based businesses is by helping them communicate to you. This issue of the newsletter is dedicated to them, and all ads for this
issue are free. We are also using our social media and email platforms to help our Elizabethbased businesses get their messages out. Also, look for “Wednesdays with West” in your email every (you guessed it) Wednesday as ECA communications chair West Bryant offers his bits and bobs of information. If you know of happenings you’d like him to include, let West or me know. And be sure you’re on the Elizabeth Families email group. Sign up from the website, elizabethcommunity.com.
As 8K is cancelled, many sponsors join ECA in funding ‘ElizabethCares’ by Rob Zabel On Mar. 13, just eight days prior to the running of the 34th annual Elizabeth 8K Road Race, the race committee made the decision, based on guidance and recommendations from government, health and safety professionals, to cancel the race due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The health and safety of our participants, volunteers, sponsors, partners and our community is our top priority We’re also proud of the many and although we were greatly unplanned and inspirational disappointed in having to make “pop-ups” occurring throughout that decision, we have no doubt Elizabeth. Chalked hearts apit was the right decision at the pearing on your sidewalk? Front time due to the severity and yard happy hours? Google uncertainty of the situation. maps of Teddy bears? Free This race is a passion for plants? Grocery trips? Children me and the others on the race at play? The creativity and support Elizabeth neighbors are committee. We are volunteers that dedicate countless hours offering one other is awesome in the months leading up to and helps keep spirits high. this race to curate an event that It is a privilege to work with provides a differentiated and the awesome volunteers on exceptional experience to all the ECA board. They have put those involved, including our in countless hours of work on Elizabeth community as a whole. ElizabethCares, just because We also recognize and respect they care. It’s been inspirational the participants that commit an to be part of this group and this equal or greater number of hours work. No one anticipated the to their race training and truly challenges we would face this thank all those who registered year. I, for one, am happier to and supported our race. be going through this unusual spring and summer with my By Mar. 13, with significant Elizabeth neighbors and upfront costs already incurred friends. Many thanks to you all. and 90% of the preparation
complete, we were excited and optimistic that this would be our best race ever. The last thing we wanted was to have to cancel the race, but for the safety of all, that was the difficult decision that had to be made. It was a minuscule sacrifice in comparison to the many financial and non-financial challenges that our local neighborhood businesses and individuals were facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including all those who bravely serve on the front lines of this fight every day. In collaboration with the ECA, we felt we had a chance, and a responsibility, to make a positive impact on our community and help those most impacted. The ECA quickly formed a new ElizabethCares initiative to support front line health care workers and those individuals and businesses in need. We are grateful to the many Elizabeth 8K sponsors and partners who chose to re-direct their financial support from the race to this initiative. Through funding from the ECA and our race sponsors, over $25,000 is now being disbursed to selected charities supporting this initiative, including Feed the Frontline Charlotte, Frontline Foods, Loaves and Fishes, Urban Ministry Center and Friendship Trays. We will all emerge stronger from this and the Elizabeth 8K will be back. Until then, stay safe, stay healthy. THE PEOPLE PAGES
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Darin Soll on drums, Colsen (15) and Keane (12) Hofert on guitars. Photo by Kris Solow
On 5th Street, front porch Fridays means dinner with a jam by Gray Hudson
neighbors, Claire Herrmann, out on her front porch practicing her clarinet. Turns out she’s really good and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her play from a couple I’ve worked and lived in Eliza- of doors away (I also remember beth for more than 20 years, and the days of my mom sending me outside to practice my trumpet, there has always been so much to love about our neighborhood. justifiably so). One of the best things about it, beyond the walkability, is our front porches with houses relatively close together (it’s one thing that makes Halloween here amazing). Many of us spend a lot of time on our front porch – it’s basically part of the living space. One day recently, before COVID-19 had impacted our daily lives in such a profound way, I heard one of our young 20
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Then, in the blink of an eye, things changed. We were all working and running school from home, with limited movement as dining out at our favorite restaurants was not an option. During the day, we got outside to ride the bike, walk the dog, go for a run. It was great to see more people outside, but things still felt very solitary (for obvious reasons).
Our kids missed playing with their neighborhood friends and we all missed gathering together. No Easter egg hunt, no Elizabeth 8K, etc. We see and chat briefly with our neighbors, but the conversations are often abbreviated. We’re all busy running school, home, business, trying to be respectful from a safe distance and going a little stir crazy with this new normal. Then I remembered Claire’s porch performance and how wonderful such a simple thing can be. An idea was forming. We’re all cooking more at home and supporting our favorite local restaurants with take-out. There are many talented people on our 2100 block of East 5th Street, as
there are on every block. So, what if we did a simple thing: What if, one night a week, everyone on the block (or whoever wanted to) brought their dinner out onto their own front porch or front yard at the same time (about 6:30 p.m.)? And what if a few brought an instrument to riff on for all to hear, if they felt like it? Maybe someone would do it. So, I nervously sent the message out to the neighbors on our block and asked them to spread the word to anyone I had missed. At least my wife, Elli, had promised that she would join in. With the weather warming up, we were ready to be outside and to do more than just wave at our neighbors from a distance. I had no idea what kind of response we might get but, wow! That first evening, most of our neighbors were out on their porches and there were five musicians taking turns playing whatever they wanted to, some on the east end of the block, others on the west end of the block, everything from “Edelweiss” to Metallica. Neighbors strolled around the sidewalks and visited with each other, respectfully observing social distancing, of course. And it was a Tuesday night! The next week we shifted to Friday night and started calling it #FrontPorchFriday. By the time our third week came around, a few neighbors had coordinated several tunes,
Claire Herrmann with her clarinet. Photo by Tammy Herrmann
encourage you to connect or reconnect with your neighbors. Get to know them better and be amazed by the things you didn’t know about them. And please feel free to join in #FrontPorchFriday (or any other day) on your block! Whatever we do, hopefully we will look back In our amazing neighborhood, on this crazy time inspired by one another and with much to be with so much creativity and thankful for. concern for others, I would including a full drum kit, keyboards and guitars. Not a concert, just jamming together for a bit. Households and family units clustered together, listened and visited with one another, while safely and respectfully six feet apart (weird times, these are).
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Another neighbor, Erik Dagenhart, brought me seed starter kits and seeds from Walmart and plowed two garden spots. Zinnias, marigolds and I’ve got my health, tomatoes are off to a fine start. a job – and the best He also sawed up a huge tree neighbors in the world limb I had cut in an effort to get by Susan Green more sun on the flowers around the fountain. Gordon Reid climbed the same tree to remove April 18 was my first full day a dangerous “hanger” branch Tom back at work – on the computer Hanchett at home all day for training. easily twenty feet long. Michael I thought it would never end and Garrett made a run to Home Charlotte historian Depot and returned with a weedgot tired of sitting rather than updates self-guided being on the go. I miss customers eater and drop cord, plus zinnias Elizabeth walking tour and marigolds for the fountain, and their stories. to replace ones that had failed. Ten neighbor households Charlotte community Recent 5th Street arrival and (Reid, Davis, Dagenhart, Solow, historian Tom Hanchett has fellow church member Nancy Magas, Haenni, Hardwood, Scala, updated his self-guided Elizabeth Culp plans to haul several loads Jones and LaBounty) offered neighborhood walking tour. of yard waste bags to the dump. and six of them have delivered Hanchett, who is currently She has a little red truck. I was – groceries and brought me historian-in-residence for the flowers. Beth Haenni handed me am – afraid that the city under Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, two rolls of toilet paper as she duress would not consider such has several neighborhood unloaded her groceries from the a load. walking tours available, and he’s car. Kristan Magas gave me three 20 years in Elizabeth are the been updating them as more more after “Ally scored big at best home I’ve ever had. I can’t people are out walking during Target.” I’m remarkably blessed. imagine living anywhere else. the pandemic. Visit the Elizabeth The first three weeks tour at www.historysouth.org/ sheltering in place I have worked elizabeth-walking-tour. dawn until dusk in the yard and The walk is about two miles. have nearly 50 brown recycling As Hanchett writes: “If you are bags to show for it. I’m almost a brisk walker, that’s maybe ashamed to have enjoyed the 40 minutes. If you stroll, outdoors so much when the amble or dawdle (all are much world is full of suffering. encouraged), it’ll take longer.” A father and son team – Ken and Mitchell Magas – collaboThe site promises “some rated to investigate my fountain, of Charlotte’s best-preserved early-20th century residences, replace and re-thread the pump including five official Charlotte through its base and got it gurgling again. Mecklenburg historic landmarks, four grand old churches, a tree-shaded park and one of the city’s favorite taco-and-empanada joints.”
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Anne Lambert
A: I love theater and I’ve been involved in Charlotte’s theater community for a long time. I produce and direct work under the banner Charlotte’s OffBroadway. And I also act in shows in theater companies around town. Not much is going on right now, but last fall, my sister and I produced a play she wrote about Jimmy Carter in New York City. My husband and I also love to travel, take walks, do yoga and watch cooking shows on TV.
Meet ECA board volunteer Q: Tell us about your family. Anne Lambert A: I’ve been married to my college sweetheart, Tim Waples, Editor’s note: Anne Lambert recently became an at-large member for more than 30 years. He’s a teacher at Charlotte Country Day of the Elizabeth Community Association board. We asked her to School. We don’t have any kids or pets, but we have a great big tell us a little about herself. circle of friends and family with Q: What do you do for a living? whom we enjoy spending time. A: I’m a non-profit development Q: How long have you lived officer, a fundraiser. I’ve in Elizabeth? worked for several different A: We moved here in 2000; we organizations in Charlotte over purchased one of the condos at the years, but currently, I’m Hawthorne Court before they the development director for were built, and we are still there Community Culinary School of 20 years later. Charlotte. We train people who have trouble getting and keeping Q: From where did you move? jobs, usually because of lack of skills or perhaps because they’re A: We moved from Davidson. Tim and I are both Davidson College recovering from addiction or graduates. Tim was teaching at they’ve been incarcerated. We train them to work in restaurants Davidson at the time. Before that, we lived in Philadelphia so they can make a good wage and support their families. I raise for 6 years while Tim attended graduate school and I started money and write grants for this my career in non-profit very worthy organization. development. Q: What do you do in your spare time?
Q: Why Elizabeth?
A: I really love living in this neighborhood. I loved it when we moved here 20 years ago, and I still love it, and have enjoyed seeing the neighborhood grow and change. We enjoy walks around Independence Park, and we like to patronize all the restaurants and bars in the community. We go to Yoga One and Okra, and I go to TIpToe, Shine, Starbucks, Sunflour, Fig Tree, and the UPS Store. This community has everything! Q: How did you come to volunteer
for the ECA?
A: I have been a board member of my Hawthorne Court homeowners association for many years. Earlier this spring, I was in touch with Morgan Williams, Sarah Crowder and Evan Kettler about the Hawthorne bridge/ streetcar construction project. We all spoke before the city council to express those concerns and to encourage the city’s greater oversight and action to get this project safely and swiftly across the finish line. And after several conversations with those folks, the invitation to join the board was extended, so I was glad to accept. I thought I could help represent the neighborhood from the Central Avenue/PlazaMidwood side of the bridge. Q: What do you think are the three most important issues facing Elizabeth today? A: Definitely the Hawthorne Bridge/Streetcar construction project is foremost in my mind, THE PEOPLE PAGES
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and has the highest priority for me. I really want to keep track of how that project is proceeding and also to help make sure the end results serve the community and meet the needs of everyone here. And, as an artist and park lover, I have an interest in maintaining the livability and walkability of Elizabeth, and supporting construction projects and traffic solutions and neighborhood improvements that keep neighborhood liva-bility in mind. I want to support public art and public spaces like Independence Park and neighborhood treasures like the Lillian Arhelger waterfall and the “Now Is Fireworks” sculpture and the bird murals at the water tower.
I want to see more of these types of projects in our community. And right now we are facing the challenges of COVID-19 restrictions, so we were not able to have events like the Elizabeth 8K or the Easter Egg hunt. But I appreciate how ECA responded to the quarantine with the ElizabethCares project, designed to support efforts to feed first responders and others in need and to support local restaurants and businesses. So once the restrictions have lifted and it’s okay to do so, I think Elizabeth should continue to have these types of event designed to bring neighbors together – with music and art and walks and gatherings where we meet each other and
hang out and break bread and talk and laugh and just enjoy our great neighborhood as a community. Q: Favorite Elizabeth moment? A: The first time my husband and I were walking around our neighborhood and stumbled upon the trolley path that runs between 7th and 5th. It’s so cool when you find little secret features like that. They’re what makes the Elizabeth neighborhood so cool. Q: One thing you wish everyone new about you. A: I’m an actor, so I’m pretty good at self-promotion. But most people don’t know that I’m a really good scrapbooker. Crews began pouring concrete on the Hawthorne Lane bridge on May 15. This was the first of three concrete pours. Photo by Byron Baldwin
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Meet ECA board volunteer have been married since 2008 Phil Grennan and met at work. I was born and raised in Michigan and this is my second stint in Charlotte. Editor’s note: Phil Grennan recently became an at-large member Jen was born and raised in Lexington, KY and came to of the Elizabeth Community Association board. We asked him to Queens for college and never left. We have a blended family tell us a little about himself. with three children: Tasha (30 Q: What do you do for a living? soon), who lives in Charleston; Olivia (22 soon), who lives in A: I have worked my whole life Grand Rapids, MI; and Andrew in the banking industry. About one-third as a banker, about one- (21 soon), who is a senior at the University of Kentucky third as a consultant for the big in Lexington. We are empty guys (I had my own consulting nesters with no real complaints business for 10 years) and about that. the past one-third in business development for IBM. I’ve done strategy, project execution and a lot of work in payments and data and now artificial intelligence (AI). Today I work for IBM fulltime on the client team that’s 100% focused on Wells Fargo and I am the data and AI leader for the team. Q: What do you do in your spare time? A: That’s a really good question. I am rather persnickety, so I spend a lot of time working on the house even though we have a lawn crew. My wife Jen just said to me, “It’s so helpful having an OCD husband.” I am starting to dip my toes into woodworking, although I am not very good at it (but I keep buying tools). We had a stint with RV’ing which we loved and that became my hobby for about a year. Q: Tell us about your family. A: My amazing wife Jen and I
Phil Grennan Q: How long have you lived in Elizabeth? A: We bought our house at the corner of Greenway and Laurel in June 2014. I knew I had to fly home from a business trip when Jen sent me the listing and asked me if I minded if she went to see the house the next day. We had a signed agreement a day later. (I thought we were
years away from moving when I left on my trip that Monday morning!) Jen claims she’s never leaving… Something about prying her “cold dead hands” from the house. Q: From where did you move? A: Fort Mill. Jen lived there for a long time and we bought there when we were married. Q: Why Elizabeth? A: Because Jen said so! Actually, I loved it but had some requirements (like a garage) that had to be met. Jen’s commute from Fort Mill to uptown had become a nightmare and she’d been talking about moving for a couple years. I quickly relented and never looked back. We both love it here. Q: How did you come to volunteer for the ECA? A: I always seem to get myself into the fray with leading things. Maybe I’m powerless. I sat on the sidelines for a while intentionally because I travel so much and don’t like to make half-baked commitments. I am glad to be a little more involved now. I am also the homeowner’s association president for four years running of a four building, 104 unit condo association called Shipwatch in Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms, SC, where we have our second home. Q: What do you think are the three most important issues facing Elizabeth today? A: I am happy to serve on the ECA real estate committee THE PEOPLE PAGES
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Steps Elizabethans can take to help slow climate change by Jennifer Roberts Editor’s note: The writer is a former Charlotte mayor.
Q: Favorite Elizabeth moment? A: There really are many to
be honest. I think that the past two months have been so heartwarming to see the way in which our neighborhood has 26
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shown its true colors. Being able to participate in the birth of the ECA’s ElizabethCares initiative has been pretty darn cool. Watching the way in which people are out more and saying hello more and how the heart and friendliness of the neighborhood has become more prominent makes me especially proud to live where we do.
Since I left the mayor’s office, I have been devoting my time to working on climate action and solutions. Several organizations in the Charlotte area have formed a loose coalition of advocates that calls itself the Charlotte Mecklenburg Climate Leaders (CMCL). As one of the founding Q: One thing you wish everyone members, I am grateful for the knew about you. time and dedication of the folks who continue to work on things A: Hmm... this is a hard one for me. I guess an interesting fact is like increasing the use of solar in our area, advocating for more that I was raised on a farm in a small town named Columbiaville, bike lanes and training people on energy efficiency retrofits. MI. I started showing horses in The NAACP is also part of this 4-H and my mother and step-father invested in imported Egyp- coalition because climate justice tian Arabian horses. At one point continues to be a concern. we had the largest Arabian horse Communities of color, low farm in Michigan with a full-time income communities and Native trainer and a breeding facility. I Americans are more likely to be displaced by extreme weather, was able to show horses all over sea level rise and other climate the U.S. before the age of 18. Another interesting fact, as a few events and to suffer more health neighbors have learned, is that I impacts from climate change impacts and pollution. have no clue how to play poker.
photos on this page and back cover: Kris Solow
I think the focus this group has on keeping our neighborhood growing within the zoning and neighborhood plan is very important for all of us. We are lucky to have such a knowledgeable crew on that committee. I learn every day from them all. Second, finding a balance between how to protect the neighborhood’s charm and history versus imposing excessive governance and rules upon us as property owners is very important to me personally. Finally, I think that anything we can do to encourage the right type of merchant growth near 7th and Caswell (the face of our amazing neighborhood) is very important to both our neighborhood and property values.
While the world rightly concentrates on the urgency of COVID-19, other big challenges – like climate change – have not gone away. In fact, there are parallels and learnings from COVID-19 that can be applied to climate change and climate solutions as well.
So what have we learned from COVID? We have learned, again, to listen to scientists. We have seen that if enough people believe the threat is real and affects them personally, they can rapidly change their habits. We are living with a new normal no one would have envisioned four months ago. Even Congress acted quickly, taking only a few weeks to pass a $3 trillion stimulus plan to help us through the economic fallout. We have seen fewer cars on the road, and those with asthma have noticed how much easier it is to breathe. More people are biking and walking, and we are probably buying less “stuff.” But don’t get me wrong – a pandemic is not a good way to reduce climate change. Too many lives and livelihoods have been lost. This pandemic is a real crisis that must be a priority for policymakers. However, we can walk and chew gum at the same time. What can one person do to help? Quite a lot! Here are just a few ways everyone can help: Personal changes – Every day we make choices that can help or harm the planet. Vehicle emissions comprise almost 30% of the greenhouse gases emitted in the U.S., so reducing vehicle trips and trucking helps. Biking and walking more also improves your health. Buying an electric or low emission vehicle helps. Buying local produce and locally made products reduces trucking.
Riding transit (when the streetcar finally re-opens, let’s use it!) and carpooling are good solutions. Other things that help: Eating less meat, composting food waste, recycling, installing LED lights, putting solar on your roof, using only cold water to wash clothes, reducing single use plastics, taking re-usable bags to the grocery store, growing your own veggies, planting trees, keeping bees (thanks to all the Elizabethan beekeepers!), weatherizing your home, using battery operated yard equipment and upgrading your HVAC to an energy efficient heat pump. And there are more, easily searchable options.
invest your savings in fossil-free funds. And remember to thank businesses that do the right thing – social media and Yelp are great ways to say thank you.
Policy changes – Use your voice with policymakers at the local, state and federal levels. We have an opportunity to emerge from the COVID crisis with a “Green Stimulus,” similar to a program that put people to work after the Great Depression, that builds transit and renewable energy and smart grids – but it will happen only if enough people demand it. There are so many options for a greener economy, and if more of us talked about it on social media Institutional and business and with lawmakers, we would see more action. If we press for changes – Take climate awareness to your workplace or more renewables, with our state government and with our friends any institution you frequent. who might work at Duke, we Do an energy audit to reduce energy usage (and save money). can move policy. Leaders have to know that people care, that Numerous local companies customers and constituents care. can help with residential and commercial solar installation or We are often more powerful than geothermal heating and cooling. we know. And there are many Elizabeth residents who are Sometimes simple changes, working on these actions and like motion detectors on lights, this policy every day, and we are window shades and weather stripping, can save thousands of grateful for all they do! dollars – and lots of greenhouse gas emissions. Ask your favorite restaurant to stop using Styrofoam or straws or plastic bags and suggest they use mainly seasonal and local vegetables. Patronize climate friendly companies and let them know that is why you shop or dine there. You can also choose to THE PEOPLE PAGES
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Demolitions in Elizabeth: A threat to the fabric of our neighborhood? by Ken, June and Cooper Lambla
into the design of the buildings, sidewalks, streets and zoning ordinances that make up Elizabeth. This threadwork is under threat by demolitions of homes within Elizabeth.
Over the past 30 years this “rebalanced” the value of the many historic homes and the land’s value became secondary. Active residential owners and the ECA worked to maintain the walkability and preservation of
photo: John McBride
Editor’s Note: The Lamblas This is not the first time our are long-time residents of Elizabeth. Ken Lambla helped create the 1985 neighborhood has been threatened by changes in its fabric. Elizabeth Small Area Plan. We have experienced a similar Neighbors in Elizabeth know tipping point between the value of our land and the value of our and care for their neighbors. homes before. In the late 1970s Our ‘hood is the type where the value of our land started to you go next door for a missing become more than the value ingredient rather than to the of the structures on that land. store. This energy, or vibe, Zoning changes allowing for is created by a historical threadwork purposefully woven more density prompted demoli-
tions. Elizabeth responded by creating and adopting the 1985 Small Area Plan that valued the historic quality and fabric of the neighborhood. New owners began rehabilitating old homes rather than tearing them down and the delicate neighborly fabric began to be repaired, ultimately parts being designated a National Historic District.
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many residential blocks while planning for higher density, focused commercial development and improved amenities (like the current Independence Park improvements). These efforts, along with our close proximity to a reinvigorated downtown, provided additional value to the history that drew many people to live here.
into a large house built to the maximum lot line and height limit, harming the neighborhood’s intrinsic appeal. Sunlight is taken away, increased impervious surfaces push more water to neighbors’ yards and creeks, canopy trees are cut and gardens are imperiled.
If you are selling a home in Elizabeth, ask the intent of the purchaser. Help them understand the value of the historic fabric of the neighborhood and how this translates to livability and connectivity.
Change is inevitable. We are grateful for the many neighbors Nearby, Chantilly has seen who have moved here over the near-constant demolition of past 35 years and depend on pre-1960s homes. Modest each other for celebrations, in We have returned to the sad times, for childcare, loans point where the value of our homes of 1,600 square feet are routinely replaced by houses of garden equipment and in land has increased. over 4,000 square feet. These emergencies. But we are now Recent demolitions have are signs that new buyers, or seeing a growing number of occurred on Beaumont, Jackson, investors not intending to live in property owners place a higher Greenway and of course at the the new house, are not focused value on making money off of Martha Washington Aparton their neighbors and what the community rather than ments. New demolitions are makes a neighborhood. We want being a neighbor who actively currently planned for Caswell, Ridgeway, Kenmore, 4th and 5th to maintain the values that make values and contributes to the community. streets. Each demolition moves Elizabeth unique. We need to continue talking This is about people. And reElizabeth further away from about this as a neighborhood. spect. And living together. If our the historic quality, scale and Let’s all be aware and help time spent sheltering in place neighborly fabric we all sought has taught us anything, we hope in the first place and becomes a prevent demolitions by saying wound. Lots formerly occupied something to those demolishing it has strengthened the value of homes in our neighborhood. how we live together. by a home have transformed A radar speed detector installed on Pecan Avenue in early March slowed at least one driver to a mere 9 MPH over the posted limit. Speeding on this and other Elizabeth streets is an issue the ECA traffic committee will continue to focus on. If you’d like to help the committee, contact any ECA board member. Photo by John McBride
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At least seven homes on East 5th Street were damaged by trees knocked over by a tremendous storm that rolled through the neighborhood May 22. A tornado warning was issued just before 4 p.m. Friday afternoon as the storm began brewing in Elizabeth. Most of the damage occurred on 5th between Osborne and Laurel avenues.
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Several of the homes that were damaged were declared uninhabitable. The storm knocked out power for thousands of Carolinians. Many Elizabethans reported power was restored by the afternoon of May 23. Top photos, left to right by John McBride and Susan Green. Bottom panorama by Donna Bise.
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