Nancy Albert newsletter 704 719 1255 noalbert@carolina.rr.com
Deborah Johnson membership 704 353 1179 djohnson147@carolina.rr.com
Ruffin Pearce
Russell Crandall traffic 704 894 2283 rucrandall@davidson.edu
Terry Lett block captain/advertising 704 377 0052 terryp.lett@gmail.com
Susan Plott treasurer 704 575 2259 splott@carolina.rr.com
Freda Zeh membership 704 333 3127 fredazeh@carolina.rr.com
Amanda Loftus race 704 608 9089 aemloftus@yahoo.com
Todd Rubenson secretary 704 386 4401 todd.rubenson@bankofamerica.com
Kara Gooding cankerworm/trees 704 604 5660 Kara_gooding@hotmail.com
Linda Nash HENF/block captain 704 332 9808 nashfamily1@bellsouth.net
Melanie Sizemore zoning 704 335 0909 msizemore@realindex.com
Beth Haenni social 704 332 7992 beth.haenni@gmail.com
Matt Nurkin ECA president 704 617 8610 mnurkin@cogdellspencer.com
Peter Tart zoning 704 372 4147 petart@carolina.rr.com
Dana Inge crime 704 968 3234 kayak1010@hotmail.com
Maya Packard
Roxie Towns zoning/beautification 704 342 1000 Amy Williams social 704 491 8240 awill@catocorp.com
J O I N THE E C A The first duty of a human being is to assume the right functional relationship to society – more briefly, to find your real job, and do it. – Charlotte Perkins Gilman 2
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cover photo and running boy by Amanda Loftus, images this page by Nancy Albert
social 704 334 2196 mpackard@carolina.rr.com
vice president 704 331 4989 rpearce@wcsr.com
2009 Elizabeth 8K a great success by Amanda Loftus Elizabeth residents should be proud to have hosted the Elizabeth 8K and to be a part of its success! The 23rd annual event took place on Saturday, March 28. Despite unfavorable weather forecasts we experienced a record turnout of 710 participants and increased our registration by nearly 40% over 2008. More than $7,600 was raised and will be used for tree planting and beautification of the common areas of Elizabeth.
In addition to the planning committee, a team of more than 70 volunteers were on hand on race day to ensure a fantastic experience for the runners and walkers, and we are very grateful for their contribution.
Finally, the event would not be possible without the support of our area businesses. Despite the difficult economic climate, we were able to secure nearly $10,000 in sponsorship revenue and the value of donated goods and services. We encourage you Boriana Bakaltcheva was the to in turn overall women’s winner in 32:43 lend your and Mike Mitchell took the men’s title with a winning time of 27:17. Participants ranged in ages from four to 86 years old, and some came from as far away as Texas and New York. As usual the race had a festive spirit and post-race music, refreshments, and even Elvis were there to add to the atmosphere. A special group of people deserve a big thank you from the community for their months of dedication and planning. Cheryl Brown, Michelle Dagenhart, Loré Hunsicker, Jen Hurd, Linda Nash, Tom Patch, Devitt Rogers, and Emily Zarbatany all played a tremendous role in bringing the race together. We also want to recognize Ken Magas for lending his creative genius to the race logo, brochure and signs.
support to these businesses to show your gratitude for how they have benefitted our neighborhood. Our 2009 partners include: Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital,
deadline for fall 09:
August 15th editorial content:
noalbert@carolina.rr.com advertising:
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Hawthorne’s, Common House, Crisp, Law Offices of Annemarie Pantazis, Elizabeth Square, Launch Your Kid, Ken Magas Designs, Sub Station II, Nothing But Noodles, Common Market, Charlotte Rolfing, NoFo, Pro Fit Rehab, Nova’s Bakery, Pasta & Provisions, HM Properties/ Emily Zarbatany, Nolia, 1900 Mexican Grill & Tequila Bar, Customshop, Carpe Diem, Elizabeth Creamery, Loft 1523, Yoga One, Fennebresque & Co., Dick’s Sporting Goods, Asana Activewear, Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated, Starbucks, Harris Teeter, Smoothie King, and Snoop’s Grill.
The wet weather this spring and the low cankerworm infestation is a welcome respite our trees needed after many seasons of drought and high cankerworm counts. Please do remove your bands. The bands can hold water and other types of bugs up against the tree bark, causing it to rot if on too long. The city should be removing their bands in the coming weeks. trees4elizabeth@gmail.com Mulch your trees by Kris Solow
feeder roots are 6-12 inches from the surface, and reduces oxygen getting to the soil. To make a bed, you will first need to draw an outline around the tree perimeter. With a can of spray paint, measure out 3 feet at various intervals from the trunk of a newly planted tree, and spray a dot. Continue doing this all around the tree. Scale the bed to the tree’s size, and the larger the bed the better. Now, connect the dots to form a continuous circle. This is the line on which you will place your straight edge shovel and angle in toward the tree 45 degrees. Dig down about 2 inches, shovel the dirt into the bed, chop it up a bit, or recycle with yard waste. You will not harm the tree with shallow digging. Be careful digging around older trees. They have larger roots and you want to be careful not to dig through these roots but to bypass them. Any grass can either be pulled or skimmed off, or you can lay the mulch right on top of the grass. It is not necessary to use harmful pesticides to kill the grass.
A tree with a properly prepared mulched bed provides a Planning for the 2010 race is safe and nutritious growing already under way, and your environment. Mulch, when help is always welcome. placed on the soil in the If you want to be a part of the bed, maintains soil moisture planning committee, volunteer by reducing evaporation so on race day, or lend your watering is minimized, improves business support as a sponsor, soil condition by providing please contact Amanda Loftus organic matter, and shades and at 704.608.9089 cools the soil similar to forest or aemloftus@yahoo.com. surfaces. Mulch will reduce the germination and growth of Time to remove weeds, improve the structure of tree bands the soil and give the landscape by Kara Gooding a well manicured appearance which will improve street Thanks Again to everyone Once you have created the bed appeal and home value. who banded their trees this line and removed the grass or year. The canopy in Elizabeth Mulch keeps grass and other whatever else was growing in looks fantastic! Very few plants from growing under and this area, smooth it out with a cankerworms have been spotted competing with the tree for rake to remove any lumps or in our neighborhood and in water and nutrients. It keeps rocks and to fill in any low spots. surrounding neighborhoods. soil warmer in the winter and On newly planted or trees The spraying combined with cooler in the summer. It also younger than 3 years, create a banding seems to be keeping reduces compaction to the soil. watering ring: build up a rim of the cankerworm population low Compaction impedes food from soil around the outer edge of for the time being. getting to the tree since a tree’s 4
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Elizabeth Recycles Day a success by Craig Miller Elizabeth’s first ever Elizabeth Recycles Day, held on April 18th in Independence Park, brought out several dozen residents hauling everything from paint cans to old TVs. The goal of the event was to make it easier for Elizabeth residents to recycle items that aren’t picked up in municipal recycling bins, thus keeping those items from being thrown out or piling up at our homes. Based on the sheer volume of items collected and recycled, the event was a big success. Here’s an estimated
photo: Kris Solow
the root ball of the tree to catch bark cutting off the tree’s food water. Now it’s time to mulch. supply which travels up the bark. Mulch is laid 2-4 inches Choose mulch that is fairly in depth and tapered just TO coarse in texture and woody, the trunk. like wood chips (if on a flat terrain) or ground bark such as Mulch helps with tree hardwood mulch (which is best maintenance, eliminates the and for slight embankments) need to mow, and greatly for a tree bed. Just as mulching reduces damage from weed is good for a tree, too much trimmers and lawn mowers mulch, the wrong mulch, or which run over roots and hit improperly laid mulch is not the bark causing wounds and good for a tree. Properly laid rot. It neatly defines the grass mulch must NEVER go up a and tree areas. So, mulch your tree’s trunk, which will provide trees for a neat and attractive an environment for insects to look while extending the life of attack the bark. When the bark your trees. You’ll both be glad is attacked and eaten, it will you did! rot an area around the tree’s
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What made the event even more special was that many of the items will be reused. Cell phones were donated to the Cell Phones for Soldiers program. Eyeglasses were donated to the Lion’s Club eyeglass program. Hangers were given to 2001 Cleaners right in our own neighborhood. Blankets were donated to an animal rescue program and all arts and crafts supplies were given to a public school art teacher.
evening at what once was the water fountain, take a stroll on the path, and then return to the circle to do our ancient Chinese martial art. The moves are slow and deliberate and engage our whole body as well as our mind. The deep breathing helps calm our stress-filled bodies and after a few times through the routine we begin to feel lighter, more open and relaxed.
I began my quest to learn Tai Chi on a trip to China in 1981. I would watch Chinese people of all ages gather in the park or Many residents commented on any open grassy space and about what a great idea the begin the ancient ritual. After event was and asked when the watching from my window my next one will be. Based on the first few days I had the courage rundown of what was collected: comments and the success of to ask our guide if I could join 350 containers of household the event, definitely look for the group outside our hotel the hazardous waste - paint cans, this to be an annual event. Also, next morning. pesticides, cleaners, solvents, talk of a neighborhood Green He had to ask the authorities etc. (enough to fill two large Team to tackle more projects and did come back with pickup trucks!) like this has been buzzing permission as long as he did it around, so be on the lookout 85 lbs of batteries with me. I was actually glad to for more information toward have him with me. He gave me 150 hangers that effort. a few pointers in the afternoon One heaping pickup truck Many thanks to the volunteers and I was ready early the next load of electronic equipment who helped out at the event on morning to begin. including TVs, computers, April 18th! We joined the group in the printers, DVD players, etc. park across the road from Tai Chi: a walking Fifteen compact fluorescent our hotel. Some people were meditation to improve lights concentrating and didn’t seem balance & reduce pain to notice as we found a space One dozen cell phones by Frances D’Amato near the edge of the group. One dozen eyeglasses Independence Park in Elizabeth Others smiled a welcome and is the perfect place to practice made room for us. The Chinese 10 ink cartridges the art of Tai Chi and there are method of learning Tai Chi 150 hard plastic bottle caps a few residents that agree with was to watch and follow. So I me. We gather together at 7:30 did watch, as they appeared to 4 blankets in the morning or 5:30 in the go through about 73 moves. 6
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photo of Kris and Craig by Craig Miller
50 lbs of arts and crafts materials including fabric, magazines, etc.
They stretched and began the process again and my guide and I started. I soon realized how awkward I felt: my hands and feet were not in the flow. I just let the fear pass and did what I could. I was in China for a month and did Tai Chi every morning from then on.
of The Mint Museums offers tours to area elementary and secondary school students as well as to other groups ranging from pre-school children to senior citizens. The docents are a vital part of this effort.
Mint docents are known for their excellence. Their Back home enthusiasm for art and their in NY, I interest in visitors endow found a Tai the museums with spirit and Chi master warmth. Docents are people and began who have: my study in - the ability to communicate earnest. In effectively with a group 2002, the Arthritis Foundation offered a - an education, background, or certification training program strong interest in art in Tai Chi, which I did. After - a warm and friendly attitude moving to Charlotte, I began teaching Tai Chi in my aquatic Please don’t hesitate to call or class at Dowd, one move at a email me with any questions. time until we learned it, then 704.337.2032 another and another. Doing any of the moves daily for allison.taylor@mintmuseum.org 15 minutes is beneficial: the promise that Tai Chi improves Grilling season concentration, memory, by Nikki Sawyer Moore balance, coordination, muscle When my normally kitchenstrength, stamina, posture, phobic husband rises from the biomechanics were evident couch and ventures into the in all the class members and kitchen, I know that warmer myself. So if you want to join us temperatures have arrived. for Tai Chi in the park, please While he is a voracious eater, give me a call. 704 379 7923. the actual process of cooking leaves him quivering with Mint Museum anxiety. It ranks right up needs docents there with vacuuming as one by Allison Taylor of his most hated activities. Adult Programs Coordinator But something changes around The Mint Museum is looking for this time of year. It’s almost volunteers for next docent class chemical in nature. A piece of which starts Monday, August his genetic “man-code” lights 17. The education department up with the recognition that
beer drinking can now occur with large pieces of meat over fire in the great outdoors. He actually offers to cook dinner. I, on the other hand, love the kitchen and spend most of my time there. Yet I too welcome summer and the start of grilling season for the opportunity to cook simply and be outside. Whatever your reasons for grilling, it’s a fun and easy way of cooking that yields tasty results. Grilling goes beyond dogs and burgers: fruits, vegetables, and breads are delicious grilled, and options for marinades and rubs are limitless. So what do you need to know to become the Grill Master of Elizabeth? Here are five helpful hints for taking your grilling skills to the next level. Keep it clean. Always cook
on a clean grill. Dirty grills can transfer char to your food, affecting taste and appearance. A dirty grill will also make your food stick, resulting in frustration for the cook and a raggedy final product. Work it 10 to 2. Envision a
clock on your grill. Place your product, presentation side down, at an angle pointed at what would be the 10 on a the people pages
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clock. Let the product cook for 2-3 minutes and then, keeping the presentation side down, rotate the product so that it now points in the direction of the 2. Allow the product to cook for a few more minutes and then flip it over to the other side. The result will be appetizing grill marks in a crosshatch pattern.
Community Association’s biggest fundraisers, and each year we depend on our great volunteers and sponsors to make it a premier event.
This year’s tour will be held October Show patience. Don’t rush. 3 and 4 If your grill is clean, your meat and will will naturally release from the feature grates when it’s ready. If you seven beautiful homes which feel some resistance when you will be graciously opened to go to flip your meat, let it cook visitors from across the area. for another minute or two. We’ll be looking for volunteers to greet visitors and give a Take out the guesswork. brief history of the homes You always want to cook meat on tour. We’ve always had a to the proper temperature, so generous response from our get a good thermometer: it’ll neighborhood businesses and remove all doubt that your food look forward to their support is ready and make for a painless again this year. Newcomers are grilling experience. Remember: encouraged to volunteer: it’s a poultry should be cooked to wonderful opportunity to meet 165° F, ground meats to 155°F, your neighbors. and whole pieces of pork, beef, and fish to 145° F. info: mpackard@carolina.rr.com Be Creative. Don’t be afraid
to whip up your own spice rub, marinade, or sauce. It’s hard to go wrong and the options are truly limitless. Feeling nervous? Start out by tweaking a favorite recipe by substituting or adding a new ingredient. Happy grilling!
Clean and green by Nancy Albert
In keeping with the ECA’s 2009 theme of “Going Green” I thought neighbors might be interested in an event held recently at Central Piedmont Community College. On Saturday, April 18 the Center Home Tour 2009 for Sustainability hosted its by Maya Packard second annual “Charlotte: Clean and Green—An Earth It’s May – time to start thinking Day Celebration.” The event about the October Home Tour. was planned and put together This is one of the Elizabeth 8
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through the combined efforts of CPCC, the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, US Green Building Council and Charlotte Center City Partners. The all-day event took place along Elizabeth Avenue, in the Overcash building and on its lawn. There were opening remarks by County Commissioner Jennifer Roberts. Thirty-five free environmental education classes were offered covering everything from alternative energy, raising your own chickens, backyard wildlife habitats, organic gardening for kids, to making your home more energy efficient, composting, cooking and green careers. Over 70 vendors from “green” industries displayed the latest technological developments in farming, alternative energy, energy management, alternative fuel cars, new solar technology, green remodeling, non-profit environmental resource organizations and much more. Music was provided by three local bands and three award winning documentaries were shown as part of an environmental symposium. Best of all, this 100% zero emissions gathering was attended by an estimated 4,000 people. CPCC plans to host a third annual Clean and Green next spring. If green’s your thing, check out local alternative energy entrepreneur Mark Englander at www.charlotteenergysolutions.com.
ECA Socials + Elizabeth Restaurants = win/win by Freda Zeh
Plans are in the works for future events across the neighborhood. Stay tuned to LizBizPromos, our ECA website link to local businesses, or join the ECA today to receive updates on future ECA Social events.
Rezoning Petition #2009-048
The current rezoning request by Winter Development concerns You may have heard the buzz a triangular 6.87 acre property already, but this year the ECA bounded by East 7th Street has added a fun new way to and Weddington Avenue. The socialize with your neighbors petitioner is requesting an while supporting our local up-zoning from R-22MF (multibusinesses. Three ECA Socials If you are a local restaurant family use at 22 living units already have been held since owner and would like to per acre) to MUDD-CD (Mixed March, and attendance is host a future ECA Social, Use Development District growing at each event, says please contact Terry Lett, our Conditional). The developer can Debbie Johnson, membership Business Liaison for the ECA, at build 151 living units under committee co-chair. “It’s terrylett@bellsouth.net for more the current zoning but desires a great to see so many Elizabeth information. rezoning to allow for nearly 400 residents and families in such residential rental units. a relaxed setting. Plus the Growth in Elizabeth The property is currently feedback from businesses has by Peter Tart characterized by a 2 1/2 blockbeen awesome!” The first three The desire by many long 7th Street edge with no events, held at Mexi-Cafe, developers to work in The street intersections, a nearly Nothing But Noodles, and Elizabeth Community is an 40’ drop in grade elevation Carpe Diem restaurants, were acknowledgement that we along 7th Street and a mature chosen in part for their location enjoy a rich quality of life tree canopy that helps soften on Elizabeth Avenue. based in our geography and the edge between 4 lanes of A team effort across several citizenry. We have an engaged traffic and the buildable site. ECA committees, the socials population, beautifully scaled The south side of 7th Street is have emphasized these and organized infrastructure zoned R-MF22 and currently businesses first because and delightful public tree is occupied by single-family they’ve really been hit hard by canopy that shields from the homes. On the other side of the construction plus a challenging summer sun and comfortably Winter property, located across economy. transitions between public and Weddington Avenue is Queen Michelle Flattum of NOFO/ private space. These attributes City Lumber and a train railway Mexi Café sent us this note also are the underlying dollar- that sees about 9-to-12 trips after their event: value of Elizabeth land so per day. Otherwise there are coveted for development single-family and multi-family “Thank you again and again and can be expected to structures at each end of the for choosing to help out the provide a reasonable profit to property and within several businesses in the Elizabeth those developing within the blocks. Community. I hope to see community. And since any the area growing into a great rezoning request in not a right, Property History walking neighborhood for all in but rather a critically reviewed 2008 Charette the near future.” privilege and responsibility, we Aware of growing developer interest in our community should expect the granting of the ECA and HENF (Historic such request will benefit both Elizabeth Neighborhood community and investors. the people pages
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Foundation) requested help from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Planning Department in formulating a thoughtful direction for new development, especially along 7th Street. As part of that charette (workshop) the Winter property was identified as one of three “nodes” or places of concentrated activity and density. While the charette was considered a possible foundation of what will eventually lead to the “Elizabeth Small Area Plan” there were many principles identified that the neighborhood can now endorse. The charette recognized that these nodes could benefit from a mix of residential and commercial uses with the intent that a commercial component would encourage pedestrian activity at, and between, nodes along 7th Street. Specifically, the charette identified a more generous transition between the roadway and pedestrian way than is stated as a minimum under the MUDD category. While MUDD requires a minimum of 14 feet the charette response encourages 20’-32’ at residential developments - a more comfortable transition zone. Developer’s intent
Over the 4-to-5 meetings between stakeholders the developer’s team has made 10
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revisions to the project that currently can be expected to include the following:
be re-aligned to intersect with Cameron Avenue, without a traffic light
• just under 400 apartment units wrapped around 2 concealed parking decks
• no presentation has yet to refer to utility locations, landscaping intentions or public amenities (bicycle parking etc.)
• no commercial uses • the height along 7th Street will be limited to 3 levels, stepping back to 4 levels toward Weddington Avenue and the railway
• the current plan iteration can be found at www.charmeck.org/ Departments/Planning/Home.htm - navigate to petition # 2009048 - bottom of page under “What’s Hot!...Rezoning Petitions” Positive design considerations
A successful project would result from respect of the current contributing context of Elizabeth. The scale of 3-level buildings can be mitigated with a healthy, significant tree canopy which acts to • along 7th Street the massing transition from street to the has been divided into 4 new buildings. The nature of “buildings” along the roughly the transition zone from public 2 1/2 city blocks with a single way (street and sidewalk) to a private “street” in the middle building face or entry should of the project connecting 7th encourage public gathering, Street and Weddington Avenue chance meetings and general • each of those four “buildings” pedestrian activity that sit on a sloping grade of about enriches urban spaces. Primary 9’-10’, without a floor elevation entrances to the building change and therefore the should be visible and scaled relationship between building appropriately as visual cues, and pedestrian sidewalk is mostly further complementing the non-communicative to the context of the neighborhood. pedestrian on the lower edge - The most identifiable part of this may also lead to a perceived most buildings in Elizabeth is extra story at that edge the approach and entrance to our existing buildings. If these • Bascom Street is intended to
devices have been overlooked it’s probably a sign that the developer’s emphasis is on the vehicular access to internal parking rather than cueing and encouraging pedestrian access and activity, which is one of the hallmarks of urban neighborhoods. Consider The Williamson mixed-use project at the corner of 7th Street and Clarice Avenue. The 3 story building is set back from 7th St. a very comfortable distance, providing a positive pedestrian experience even though it is adjacent to 3 lanes of sometimes-heavy traffic. On the Clarice Street side there are
individual stepped approaches leading to individual units close to the public sidewalk. These simple but rich steps activate the public way, provide appropriate scale and act as a transition zone - with no unnecessary theatrics. The size of the building and parking area, located on approximately 1/4 block, addresses its context remarkably well and should be considered a good example from which to judge the development further down 7th Street.
compliments and benefits our neighborhood. Between now and the announcement of the developer’s formal presentation to the community you are encouraged to review the site in-person while considering the immediate and expanded context, and considering other places in Charlotte or on your travels that have benefitted from thoughtful responses to the need for growth while respecting and improving the local quality of life.
Growth can be positive for the Elizabeth Community and we hope to be able to support this development as long as the trade-off of up-zoning
☛ preferred street section (above) and preferred residential public way (left) at “node” - at 3-lane section of 7th Street section from the 7th St. Charette 2008 the people pages
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