Monthly Report - January 1998

# of Neighborhood Organizations assisted: 7

# of Faith-Based Organizations assisted: 3

# of Municipal Agencies assisted: 2

January saw a busy beginning to the new year. NTAC staff continued to fulfill ongoing commitments and took on two new clients as well. The Association Reclaiming Lives and Neighborhoods (A.R.L.N) was established by Ms. Gertrude Huston after her son was murdered at a restaurant on State street. Ms. Huston, family members, friends, and neighbors have organized to establish an non-profit that will lead violence prevention efforts to ensure that no other East St. Louis family suffers a similar loss. NTAC staff will provide A.R.L.N. with information about existing anti-violence groups and if desired assist in establishing a 501(c)3 non-profit.

A second new project involves Adventures In Motivation (A.I.M.) and the creation of a recreation/education park in the Wedgewood Buyout area. NTAC staff has partnered with A.I.M. and the Southwestern Illinois Planning Commission to develop site plans and programs for a fundable wetlands project to benefit East St. Louis residents, particularly children.

NTAC staff attended a preliminary planning meeting with Adventures in Motivation and the Southwestern Illinois Planning Commission and developed a partnership designed to create fundable plans for a wetlands park in the Wedgewood Buyout area.

This faith-based organization requested NTAC assistance with board development. Staff attended the organization’s kick off event and provided an overview of board "Best Practices" for use by the Aldersgate group. This client has since been referred to Southern Illinois University - East St. Louis Center’s faith-based organizing initiative.

NTAC staff attended the regular January meeting of this neighborhood association. Staff answered resident questions about CDBG HOME funds and roof/weatherization funding.

See description in Introduction

NTAC design staff met with Deacon Andrew Jackson and landscape architect research assistants from the University of Illinois to develop final plans for the Carver Community Center landscaping project.

NTAC staff attended a kick-off meeting for the Housing Authority initiative designed to place 361 units of new housing in East St. Louis. The Housing Authority has decided to leverage its funds and explore possible mixed-income, mixed finance development.

NTAC staff presented a primer on zoning for the East St. Louis Planning Commission that included ArcView Maps of the 12 major zones in East St. Louis. In addition, NTAC hosted a Planning Commissioner’s Workshop on Saturday, January 31. At that meeting three speakers came to discuss planning with the commissioners and CDBG/NTAC staff led a mock public hearing.

NTAC staff attended a planning meeting for Edgemont’s homeownership seminar, slated for March. NTAC will utilize funding provided by HUD-Community Outreach Partnership grant to fund a program wherein East St. Louis residents can receive assistance on housing maintenance/repair, home improvement loans, safety, and other concerns.

Emerson Park Development Corporation (EPDC)

NTAC staff led a board training session at the EPDC regular meeting. Residents in attendance learned about the roles and responsibilities of non-profit board members and methods for staff management. In addition, NTAC design staff toured sites with Vicki Forby, EPDC Director, that are designated for rehabilitation. The tour was to provide background preparation for a design charette to be led by NTAC design staff.

NTAC staff assisted Good Shepard’s director, Parthenia Morgan, with compiling her bills for submission to CDBG. Assistance was also provided for contract re-negotiation.

NTAC staff worked with Land of Lincoln Legal Services to complete Olivette Park’s Internal Revenue Service application for 501(c)3 non-profit status. Research on available property on Veronica Place was also completed for the neighborhood organization. This preliminary information was gathered for possible future land reclamation activities.

Winstanley/Industry Park Neighborhood Organization (WIPNO)

NTAC staff met with the WIPNO board and agreed to assist in the completion of 1845-1847 St. Louis HOME rental rehabilitation project. NTAC design staff agreed to commence on as-built drawings of the property and a "boiler-plate" funding proposal. NTAC staff agreed to research possible funding sources and will utilize the as-built drawings to develop schemes for rehabilitation of the building.

* See attached bills and time sheets