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WHAT A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD WE LIVE IN
WHAT A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD WE LIVE IN! Who is the Baldwin Park Joint Committee?
Hello friends and neighbors! One question I often get asked is, “What is the Joint Committee, and what does it even do?”
Because we have some new people in the neighborhood, as is apparent from the homes that have instantly sold lately and the extreme lack of homes on the market, I thought it would be a good time to reintroduce everyone to one of the driving forces behind Baldwin Park: The Joint Committee.
The Joint Committee is the unifying board between the Residential Owners Association and the Commercial Owners Association). It consists of two members from the ROA, two from the COA and one member-at-large (that’s me!). Each member serves a one-year term, so every year in August, new members are appointed from the ROA, COA, and then they appoint the member-at-large.
This five-member board is responsible for the Overall Benefit Property, which is basically the shared spaces between the residents of Baldwin Park and the commercial properties. This includes the sidewalks, signage, plants and public space outside of the commercial spaces along New Broad Street from Chatfield Place down to Lake Baldwin Park, which is city of Orlando property.
As a resident of Baldwin Park, I know how much pride we all take in our community, and the Joint Committee takes equal pride in the OBP areas. You would be surprised at how much effort is put into all of the details within the village center, from the planters to seasonal banners to the flags that are displayed at the end of New Broad Street. No detail goes unnoticed!
In addition to overseeing the OBP, the Joint Committee is responsible for the planning and coordination of certain community-wide events and functions that benefit the entirety of our beautiful corner of the City Beautiful. These events include the Independence Bash and Winter Wonderland Extravaganza. As you may have noticed from the holiday event, we’re really making a concerted effort to showcase the Baldwin Park lifestyle as it should be to those who don’t live here. These events not only bring all of us as neighbors together, but they also bring attention to Downtown Baldwin Park, which is a huge win for the local, independent businesses down there.
Over time, we’ve seen the popularity of some events wain, which gives us the opportunity to try out new events in which the community shows interest. We’re also always looking for new ideas for different events that are best for Baldwin Park. If you ever see something elsewhere or think of large events such as Independence Bash that would be a good fit around here, don’t hesitate to share those ideas. Make sure to keep an eye out on our official Instagram, @visitbaldwinpark, as we showcase new and exciting things going on within the community.
One of our biggest accomplishments recently, in addition to bringing bigger and better events back, was the addition of our gorgeous tree for the holidays located on the New Broad Street fountain. A huge shoutout goes out to the entire board and our Sentry management team, which worked endlessly for at least two years to bring that into fruition. Trust me when I say, I know more about wind insurance, metal anchoring and weight balances than I ever thought I would! Additionally, the Joint Committee is responsible for things such as the Baldwin Park Network, our public- and resident-facing website at baldwinparknetwork.com, which got a huge face-lift last year in honor of Baldwin Park’s 20th anniversary.
There are several other items that fall under the Joint Committee’s purview, but they aren’t nearly as fun as our gorgeous Village Center or our spectacular events, so I’ll spare you those details. Just know the Joint Committee, in tandem with the ROA and COA, spends its time helping to keep Baldwin Park one of the shiniest gems in the City Beautiful. All of these positions are voluntary, with no other compensation than knowing that what we’re doing benefits our neighbors, our friends and our families. So, if you see one of us out along New Broad Street or in one of the shops or restaurants, we’ll never turn down a thank you!
Until next time, stay safe, stay well and remember, We Are Baldwin Park!
