Dimmitt’s Grove Neighborhood Association
Meeting Minutes- July 7, 2016
The July 2016 meeting of Dimmitt’s Grove Neighborhood Association was held in the Government Center in Downtown Bloomington. 18 neighbors and 2 city employees attended.
Vazu and Melissa, of the Bloomington Regional Planning Commission, presented the full neighborhood plan. They provided highlights and action items before officially turning the plan over to the neighbors for action and implementation.
Goal 1 focuses on the zoning of the neighborhood. The city of Bloomington will be updating the city zoning in the next couple of years and will hold outreach meetings before the zoning is updated. Neighbors should plan to attend these meetings and recommend that Dimmitt’s Grove be zoned for medium density (2-3 units) instead of high density. Katie Simpson, with the city of Bloomington, should be able to provide details when the zoning outreach meetings are taking place.
Goal 2 touches on employer assisted housing. The idea behind this program is that employers will assist with housing costs, like down payments, for the employees that live within certain communities. This would require working with other neighborhoods surrounding downtown. This goal also touches on the parking issues faced by the residents of Dimmitt’s Grove and proposes having the city conduct a parking study or possibly investigating a rental property cap.
Goal 3 recommends knowing your neighbors and crime prevention though environmental design. The neighbors should also look into the neighborhood watch app for smartphones.
Goal 4 suggests establishing Dimmitt’s Grove as a neighborhood conservation district or an eco-district. The city will be able to authorize the creation of a conservation district. No other community in Bloomington/Normal is listed as an eco-district. Neighbors should promote the neighborhood as walkable, bike-able, and sustainable.
Goal 5 of the plan is to rebrand the neighborhood. Testimonials from neighbors should showcase the neighborhood community because people tell a better story than the numbers do. The plan suggests marketing to a target audience, millennials and the first time home buyers and to promote the neighborhood as trendy and not “cookie-cutter.” Neighbors should contact Human Resource Managers and apartments on the east side to get information out there about Dimmitt’s Grove.
Before turning the plan over, Vasu proposed the question “how can we reunite the homes North of Front street with the rest of the neighborhood?” The next steps will be the neighborhood adopts the plan after putting it online and in front of the other neighbors for a couple of months. Then, present it to the council for them to approve and adopt.
The normal neighborhood meeting was called to order by Brad Williams, Ken Kashain seconded. The minutes from the previous meeting were approved. The bank account has $4,597.30.
The bake sale will be held on July 9 at the northwest corner of the square at the Farmer’s Market. The Farmer’s Market starts at 7:30 am but set up will start at 6:30 am. Volunteers are needed for all shifts. Mel asks that goods be priced to sell instead of underpriced. Do not bring anything that will spoil or that contains cream or cream cheese.
We have business cards to hand out to neighbors while on walks. They will be at the next meeting.
The summer traveling social will start behind the stucco houses with salads and drinks. The social will move to Pam and Herb Eaton’s home for pasta and drinks. The final stop will be at the home of Amy Davis for desserts. The social will be July 9.
The next meeting will be September 8th at the home of Emily and Carlo at 401 E Grove.
Dimmitt's Grove Neighborhood Association 