View from the Hill

The Hays Street Bridge: The Object of our Affection and Discontent

2017-11-20T13:00:00.001-06:00

It's been awhile since I've posted on this blog. With all the commotion going on with the proposed apartment project next to the Hays Street Bridge (HSB) I thought I would add my two cents. Ever since the restoration of the (HSB) was completed in 2010 the old bridge has been a source of affection and discontent. It seems that everyone loves the bridge and the discontent comes from what development around the bridge should be allowed. The recent proposal to build a 148-unit apartment building on the privately owned vacant land adjacent to the HSB has once again stirred passionate discussions along with a healthy amount of misinformation. I did some research to get a better understanding of the issues and here is what I learned:

HSB is not for sale and the proposed project does not restrict access to the HSB.

According to the HDRC application the proposed project, which is on privately owned land, all the work on the project will be separate from the bridge right of way. In other words the project will not physically touch or impact the bridge itself.

Because the proposed project location is zoned downtown and is outside the boundaries of the Dignowity Hill historic district, this project was reviewed exclusively under the downtown design guidelines. The city’s Planning Department handles this review.

The HSB is public property as well as a designated historic land mark and is protected under UDC Section 35-643 <https://library.municode.com/tx/san_antonio/codes/unified_development_code nodeId=ARTVIHIPRURDE_DIV4PUPR_S35-643ALRERE

Additionally, because the bridge itself is a locally designated historic landmark it is also protected under city ordinance #68210 which was enacted in 1988. This ordinance gives the HSB Significant Historic Landmark designation.

Having a significant historic landmark designation for the bridge does not change the way the proposed apartment project is reviewed. The project was and has been reviewed under the downtown design guidelines.

The HSB currently does not have viewshed protection. UDC Section 35-643 <https://library.municode.com/tx/san_antonio/codes/unified_development_code?nodeId=ARTIIIZO_DIV4OVDI_S35-337VPVIPRMPMIPR provides the criteria to create a viewshed district. The code lists 15 historic properties that are eligible for a Viewshed Protection District. The HBS is not included on this list but it could potentially make the list. In order for the HSB to be added to the list a UDC amendment would be required. Getting on the list does not automatically provide viewshed protection. Viewsheds must be established by ordinance to include a survey detail and parameters. Additionally, a zoning district overlay must also be approved for all affected properties. The Alamo is the only property that currently has this type of viewshed in place.

2008

The one thing that has not happened is a wider and balanced community conversation. This project surfaced in January of this year so it’s disappointing that the developers and the current Dignowity Hill NA leadership were not able to put their heads together to gain feedback from residents and other stakeholders prior to going to the HDRC meeting in October 2017. There is precedence.
During the run up for the Alamo Brewery proposal two DHNA meetings were held to hear both the opposition and the developers of the brewery project. Shortly after the DHNA voted to support the brewery project 2 additional community meetings were hosted by then D2 council woman Ivy Taylor. At the September 2017 DHNA meeting representatives from the developers presented their plans for the project. Unfortunately no follow up meetings were held prior to the HDRC meeting in October 2017. These types of projects truly deserve a closer look by the affected communities or neighborhoods. A community meeting for the proposed apartment project is in the works but no details have been shared yet.

The Art of Being a Neighborhood

2016-04-17T15:34:00.000-05:00

I started this blog in April of 2008 a few months after we moved into Dignowity. It was my attempt to document our experiences of living in an old neighborhood that came with lots of historic character along with some pretty rough edges. I stopped posting to this blog in December of 2014. Since then I would get email messages from folks who found my blog asking about the neighborhood. Apparently my blog still lives on in cyberspace! But the inquiries were not enough to motivate me to start writing again. That is until Mayor Ivy Taylor asked me recently if I was still writing my blog. I was taken by surprise that the mayor would ask about my somewhat defunct blog. The mayor apparently had followed my blog and encouraged me to start writing again. So here we are again with more ramblings, thoughts and rants from an urban dweller.

The Art of Being a Neighborhood
Dignowity Hill has changed quite a bit since 2008. Most of the changes are good while some changes are still to waiting to happen. The biggest change is that Dignowity is now a very desirable neighborhood. Newcomers have infused some much needed investment and energy into the old neighborhood. Fans of Dignowity roam the neighborhood looking for real estate opportunities. But in spite of all of the attention challenges still remain: many streets and sidewalks are in desperate need of repair, while infill new construction has picked up the neighborhood still has many empty lots, and because the neighborhood is still relatively low income there is concern about displacement and gentrification. Regardless of the challenges Dignowity Hill is a good place.

Looking back to what drew us into Dignowity I can say with all honesty that it was an emotional pull that we felt from the neighborhood. There was and still is a feeling that it's a place with a great sense of retained memory of its past and that elusive sense of community that we crave as humans. Even today the neighborhood invokes that emotional pull even if the neighborhood is not done with its current revival. We especially sense that feeling from long time residents who have nurtured for us the feeling that Dignowity is unique. The old houses certainly add to the charm of the neighborhood but that is only part of the story. Over and over we hear that it's the people that make Dignowity a good place. Interactions in the form of small gestures of kindness between people matter. We are humbled when an elderly neighbor stops by to drop off oranges from her backyard tree. It happens when another neighbor shares a plate of home made cake. Or when the ice cream man on his bike stops to say hello. Or when we hear about a neighbor that convert their porch into a classroom to help their own neighbors with GED classwork. Stories like these do not make the newspapers or the late night news but are at the core in the art of being a neighborhood. In essence the art of being neighborhood is about people and place.

The Art of Neighborhood Placemaking

I recently came across an article on placemaking titled Streets as Places. According to the authors of the article, placemaking is about turning physical public spaces into spaces that support human interaction, economic exchange and well-being. It is a continuous dynamic process not a static set of amenities, objects or activities. The article defines placemakers as instruments that mobilize the community. It's not about design but about personalities, destination, activities, and connections between people. What I found most interesting is that the authors emphasize that the community not designers or architects should be at the core of the placemaking process. In other words, the realm of placemaking belongs to the community. As Dignowity continues to transform the conversation needs to be as broad as possible. Of course architects and designers are welcomed in the conversation. We need their technical abilities to help us visualize good development but if we want to see good neighborhood placemaking then as many voices as possible need to be heard that goes beyond the technical and often times foreign language of architecture and design.

In a changing neighborhood like Dignowity Hill placemaking needs to be embraced. The inclusive nature of the process can lead to some interesting and creative ideas. Dignowity Hill as a neighborhood and its historic district now face some interesting cross points. Some questions to think about: in a changing neighborhood how do we effectively preserve and protect not only the historical character of the neighborhood but also the strong sense of community fabric? Who speaks for the neighborhood as a whole and decides on how this place should look like and be as a place moving forward? What should economic and business development look like for the neighborhood? Do we want to see corner stores in residential areas of the neighborhood? Can the conversation be inclusive enough to engage as many residents as possible in the neighborhood? Are you a placemaker? You can find this interesting article at https://thecityateyelevel.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/2-street-as-places.pdf

Looking Back, Looking Forward

2014-12-31T14:04:00.003-06:00

It seems that 2014 was the year of gentrification for Dignowity Hill. In the past year much has been written in the media about Dignowity Hill, gentrification and the continued rise of the neighborhood as urban renaissance. Pundits, elected officials, academics and anti-gentrifiers have all offered opinions on how to deal with gentrification, which essentially is an issue of change. Well, depending on whom you talk to the Dignowity Hill gentrification train is either coming around the bend or left the station a long time ago.

In the last almost 7 years the neighborhood has experienced a good amount of change or dare I say progress. In 2008 Dignowity was beginning to feel the first waves of noticeable revitalization, even as a deep recession was taking hold. A kind of coolness was setting in as Dignowity was being “discovered”. Brave urban pioneers were beginning to invest in the neighborhood. Dignowity was getting known for its Pushcart Derby. Gentrification was but a whisper in 2008. By 2014 a number of significant projects and events had taken place that set both the neighborhood and the Eastside on a seemingly upward trajectory of revitalization.

Some of those key events include:

The BRAC at Ft. Sam Houston, which brings the first noticeable attention to Dignowity and the Eastside. (2007-2010)
The development and approval of the neighborhood and re-investment plans (2009)
The first of the Eastside Economic summits is held. (2010)
The opening of the Hays Street Bridge (2010)
The first STAR event is held in Dignowity (2010)
Dignowity Historic District gets historic street signs (2011)
Alamo Brewery project surfaces as a concept (2011)
The city is awarded the $24 million Eastside Promise Neighborhood Grant (2012)
City council with support from the DHNA approves the Alamo Brewery project (2012)
The Choice Grant is awarded to the city (2012)
Cherry Modern gets approval to build new housing near the Hays St Bridge (2013)
Alamo Brewery breaks ground (2013)
Alamo Brewery ribbon cutting (2014)

Siclovia 2014 is routed through Dignowity Hill.

For Dignowity these projects and events have certainly contributed to the ongoing revitalization or as some would say, gentrification, of the neighborhood. In the background of these relatively high profile projects an ongoing almost quiet activity of private investment in the neighborhood has been occurring. This is most evident in the real estate market for Dignowity. In 2008 you could buy a near tear down for $40,000. In some cases in the midst of the recession foreclosed properties could be had for less than $30,000. By 2014 well-restored houses were selling between $200,000 and $400,000. Empty lots are now being listed for over $40,000. Developers and flippers have discovered Dignowity. A new housing development, Cherry Modern, sold units starting at around $178, 000. The brewery project's $7 million investment, while generating controversy, is being seen as a catalyst for additional business development. This activity by both major and small investors is what is driving most of the conversation around gentrification. Questions with no clear answers are being asked. Will this activity displace any of our lower income neighbors? Will these development projects change the character of the neighborhood? Will the historic nature of the neighborhood be affected?

Moving forward it seems that change/gentrification/revitalization issues as they affect Dignowity will be discussed and dissected for a while. The problem when discussing and analyzing gentrification, as many have discovered, is that it is difficult to define it in general as it applies to a particular context. The affects of this type of change certainly impacts the built environment in a neighborhood as properties are fixed up but can be difficult to measure on a human scale. The current gentrification conversation in San Antonio tends to get twisted and rendered inert around topics of displacement, rising property values and rising property taxes. Assertions are made that displacement is occurring in the neighborhood but no quantifiable evidence can be produced. Displacement can be an issue if it’s done in incorrectly without regard to the consequences. On the other hand, there is some validity to the rise in prices and taxes but those are natural outcomes of both market driven change and taxing entities assessments based on market conditions. Is any of this a good thing? The trends we’re now seeing in Dignowity were set in motion over the last few years through a combination of city government policies/incentives, public investment and private dollars flowing into the neighborhood. Those trends have gathered traction and will most likely continue into the next few years.

Looking ahead some things are certain as we move into 2015:

The real estate market in Dignowity will remain active and to some degree speculative that will continue to drive property prices upwards.
Developers are eyeing empty tracts in the neighborhood for multi-housing and infill housing projects.
Business development activity will continue and needs to be encouraged.
Incentives offered by the city have been in place for sometime to attract private investment into neighborhood and will continue to help make investment in Dignowity attractive.
Historic preservation issues vs development issues will need to be thoughtfully navigated.
Millennials will continue to be attracted to the neighborhood.

To temper things a bit and for a reality check:

Dignowity Hill is a relative poor neighborhood. Poverty is a growing problem in the city as wealth segregation increases. According to recent published data the zip code 78202, which covers all of Dignowity, has the highest percentage of poverty in the city. The median income for a family of 4 hovers around $27,000, below the city average of $45,000.
Educational attainment is a huge issue. Recent data indicate that only 38% of residents in the neighborhood finished high school.
Crime is still perceived as being an issue.
Basic infrastructure needs such as street repairs, sidewalks, etc, are still being deferred by the city.
City council is in a state of flux and representation on city council for our district may change again in May 2015.

Neighborhood street after a rain. No sidewalks or curbs

Change is needed and welcomed but we need to be mindful of not pushing our more needy neighbors out. Mitigating the adverse affects of gentrification will be key. The mayor's appointed panel to look at changing neighborhoods is struggling to define gentrification as it applies to the city. Workable solutions are still a ways in coming. In the meantime, community building that can restore the frayed edges of the neighborhood still has a place in the neighborhood. Transformational leadership at the grassroots will be required. The neighborhood association can certainly be an advocate for improving the quality of life and should continue to work with elected officials and city staff to address structural issues. However, transformational leadership is needed to change lives and often occurs when individuals or small groups take the lead to tackle a challenge or solve a problem. For example, a neighbor recently took on the issue of monitoring the trains that block traffic in and out of the neighborhood. Another neighbor is tutoring her neighbors with GED assistance on her front porch. A group of neighbors are discussing the idea of developing a farmer’s market model that is affordable for our community. We need more individuals to help mentor and tutor our neighborhood kids. I’m encouraged by the millenials that are moving into the neighborhood for they bring not only new energy but new ideas as well that will lead to transformational change. Finally, I'm also encouraged by long time residents that welcome the revitalization of the neighborhood.

So my wish for the neighborhood for 2015 is to continue working for progress in a balanced manner. I challenge those in the neighborhood that are willing to be transformational leaders to get after it. Don’t be discouraged by the naysayers or by institutional barriers. There’s lots of work still to be done.

The Auditorium at Ella Austin

2014-08-17T21:39:00.000-05:00

The Ella Austin Community Center occupies an entire city block in Dignowity Hill. The center is named after Ella Austin an African American woman who founded an orphanage in 1897 and cared for homeless children until 1940. In 1968 the children's home was converted to a multi purpose community center and continues to serve as a neighborhood based social service agency for the Eastside and beyond.

Ella, as the community center is affectionately called, is housed in what used to be Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High School, which was closed as a school in the mid 1960's. The main building dates back to 1921 and is located in the middle of the Dignowity Hill Historic District. The building is a historic preservation project waiting to happen. The structure, while in relative good shape, is in need of on going maintenance. The exterior of the main building still retains much of it's architectural interest with it's oversize windows and doors. Over the years much of the interior space and old classrooms have been carved out for office space, conference rooms and space for programs such as the day care and after school program.

Ralph Waldo Emerson Inscription

Gated Entrance to Ella

The one interior space that has remained relatively untouched by remodeling efforts is the old school auditorium. This is a beautiful space with old hardwood flooring, a large stage, high ceilings and amphitheater type seating that slopes down towards the stage. The windows are floor to ceiling with multi pane glass or lites. The seats appear to be the original wooded fold up types no longer seen in schools.

Entrance to Auditorium off of Pine Street

Auditorium Seating and Windows

Stairway to Balcony

Stage

Old Wooden Seats

Ella is seeing a resurgence in utilization as staff from the Eastside Promise Neighborhood and Choice Grants along with the Urban Strategies Group have recently moved into office space at Ella giving the community center higher visibility. With this newly generated visibility discussion has turned to the possibility of updating and enhancing the auditorium for use by the community for events like movies, stage plays and gatherings. New lighting, new seating and audio visual equipment could help bring this beautiful space back to life. However, funding is needed to rehab the auditorium space for community events. Keep Ella in mind, it could use your generosity.

Antique Piano

Near Eastside Photo Glallery: Doors and Other Things

2014-07-06T07:43:00.000-05:00

Images were taken along or near E Commerce and Hackberry Streets

A New Old House

2014-06-05T21:42:00.000-05:00

A new old house has arrived in the neighborhood. The house located at 219 4th Street was moved to a lot on Nolan Street in Dignowity Hill. This project had been in the planning stages since last summer when our friend Ruby Casteel and her husband Bruce acquired the house from the First Baptist Church.

The house was originally built in 1885. The lot was sold to Olive Coulson in 1885 with a mechanics lien issued that same year. In 1892 the property was sold to Francis Smith. It was then sold Mary A Rigsby in 1899 who lived in the house until 1915. Mary Rigsby was the mother of William C Rigsby and Nellie Rigsby (Mrs Ben Hammond). William Rigsby and Ben Hammond were major investors in the development of Highland Park. If you drive around the Highland Park area you will see the streets named after Rigsby and Hammond. The property was owned by the Rigsby family until 1944. Eventually the house was bought by the church. The house features great architectural details. The original wood clad siding was covered in asbestos cladding. The original wooden windows are intact along with the wooden screens. The house has high ceilings, transoms and wood floors.

The house before the move.

219 4th Street

Front Porch

Beautiful Window


Window Detail

It took the house moving crew several days to prep the house for the move. The house was lifted off its foundation and then fitted with heavy duty tires to move the structure down the road. In order to make the move through downtown and neighborhood streets the roof was taken off and the house was cut into two large sections.

Prepping for the move

On Wheels

Half a House

Roof Sliced off

Gable

The actual move was made in two trips as the two sections of the house were moved from its original site to its new home in Dignowity Hill. It was amazing seeing this 129 year old house hoisted on large steel mobile girders rolling through parts of the downtown area.

Getting Ready to Move

Pulling off the lot

Squeezing through Nolan Street

Making the turn onto its new site

Made it!

The second section of the house followed about an hour later. The two sections were eventually "married" to make the house whole again. Next steps will take care of getting the foundation in place and replacing the roof. Eventually the entire house will be restored and rehabbed. At this point we are all happy the the project went off without a hitch, a testament to the expertise of Dodson House Moving crew. It safe to say that Ruby and her husband Bruce have become instant celebrities in the neighborhood for saving such a grand old dame and bringing her to Dignowity Hill!

Second section of the house is joined to the first section

Working on the foundation

Ruby and Bruce with the Dodson's

The Vision Thing

2014-06-04T00:14:00.001-05:00

One of my neighbors recently posed a great question. He wanted to know what is the vision for the neighborhood moving forward. The question seems straightforward but perhaps not as easy to answer as you may think. It's a good question to ask at this juncture in the life of the neighborhood. The vision question indicates that folks are sensing an emerging healthy tension as the neighborhood continues to progress and are beginning to wonder which way to go next. So how is vision for a changing neighborhood like Dignowity created?

Perhaps we can start by re-visiting the neighborhood plan that was developed by neighborhood residents and approved by city council in 2009. You can find the complete Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Plan at:
http://www.sanantonio.gov/planning/neighborhoods/dignowityHillNP_dec2009.asp

The stated purpose of the neighborhood plan is to provide a guide for future action, growth and development. The plan provides a ready made list of improvements and steps that residents want to see in the neighborhood. In turn city staff can use the plan to prioritize capital improvement projects and most importantly identify and prioritize funding mechanisms for those projects.

There are 22 goals under four major headings that are part of neighborhood plan. The headings and their descriptions are listed below:

Community Facilities and Public Health

Maintain and enhance the neighborhood parks, community centers, and cultural events that promote healthy lifestyles and highlight the historic character of the Dignowity Hill neighborhood

Crime and Public Safety

Improve the well being of the community by eliminating criminal activity through improved public safety measures to ensure that all community members especially children are able to work and play without fear in a safe environment

Housing and Economic Development
Coordinate and integrate development of a mix of neighborhood businesses that serve the immediate residents in the vicinity and establish housing options with diverse age and density that are walkable and secure

Transportation, Infrastructure and Drainage

Work with partners and neighbors to enhance the aesthetics of the area by improving sidewalks and road infrastructure to create a safe and friendly environment for pedestrians, motorists, and bicyclists

Taking Action

Work toward achieving the goals and objectives that are laid out in the Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Plan

In the past five years the neighborhood in partnership with city and elected officials has made significant strides in addressing some of the goals of the neighborhood plan with some success in pushing crime out and improving public safety. The economic piece is starting to gain some traction with the coming of Alamo Brewery and other business ventures in and around the neighborhood. Housing, especially large infill housing has yet to get any significant footing in the neighborhood although that may be changing soon as demand for housing close to downtown is gaining momentum and developers are eyeing larger tracts within the neighborhood. The one area where there is dire need of improvement is infrastructure and drainage improvements.

View from Lockwood Park

It's also helpful to understand that the Dignowity Hill neighborhood plan was developed and approved before there was an Easpoint, before the Promise Zone, before there was the Eastside Promise Neighborhood Grant, and before there was the Choice Grant, which by the way does not include or affect Dignowity Hill. The grant initiatives are all good in and of themselves because they address specific challenges associated with improving educational outcomes, addressing an extremely economically distressed area of the Eastside and bring much needed public investment. The reality, however, is that Dignowity as a neighborhood has been working on the vision thing way before any of these initiatives existed.

The interesting thing about the vision question is that all of us in the neighborhood most likely have an image of what the neighborhood can become or even what it should become. That is why visioning ought to be an exercise in collective thoughtful expression. I also believe that the neighborhood is reaching a tipping point that was set in motion in the mid 2000's by private investors who saw the potential of the neighborhood. They were willing to take a financial risk on the Eastside and in Dignowity. That wave of newcomers also brought along the notion of building community and finding ways to sustain the character and social fabric of the neighborhood. The question now is where do we want to go from here?

Ella Austin Community Center-Auditorium Entrance

The elements found in the neighborhood plan are good starting points to jump start a conversation about the neighborhood vision question. As I mentioned previously some healthy tensions are developing as the neighborhood continues to progress and they are not clearly addressed by the neighborhood plan. Some examples: the neighborhood is attracting young professionals that are investing in the neighborhood but we are also attracting investors and developers who do not necessarily care about building community. We find our selves layered by federal grants that for a number of reasons, neither good or bad, are not part of the vision of the neighborhood because of the prescriptive and focused nature of the grants. The question of gentrification has popped up as newcomers accelerate investment in the neighborhood yet I also feel a strong sense of community of making sure we do not displace our long time residents. Our historic district puts the neighborhood in the middle of historic preservation issues but often times those issues collide with economic development initiatives or public safety concerns around older or abandoned structures. Do we envision better schools? Do we want streets with sidewalks and curbs that actually drain off after a rain? Do we allow developers do in fill housing without regard to historic architectural guidelines? Do we allow concerns regarding density for the sake of having a new housing development in the neighborhood be discounted or worse yet disregarded?

The vision question is important. It's time that we as a neighborhood pause a bit and do some reflecting on what next.

Cherry Modern On Cherry Street

Reflections: Being a Community Leader

2014-05-04T17:38:00.000-05:00

I recently stepped down as the president of the Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association. After five years of serving in that role I welcome the change. It's time for some else to pull this cart! Don't get me wrong I have truly enjoyed being in that role. During my stint I met many wonderful people, dealt with interesting and challenging issues and hopefully gained some wisdom of how to be a leader in a changing community. When I stepped into the president's role in April 2009 it was with a great deal of naivete and plenty of apprehension. Being relatively new to the Eastside I wasn't sure how I would fit into the dynamics of the Eastside and our neighborhood. Little that I realized at the time that Dignowity Hill was at the cusp of a sea change that would go beyond our neighborhood.

I can list a number of significant events that happened during my turn as as president. For example the re-opening of the historic Hays Street Bridge, Alamo Brewery getting the nod to build next to the Hays Street Bridge, the Eastside Economic Summits, Historic Street signs were installed, the Eastside Promise Neighborhood and Choice grants were awarded to the city, and the progression in the re-vitalization of Dignowity Hill accelerated. During this time we also adopted a neighborhood and reinvestment plan. Many if not all of these initiatives were all ready in the works or were a result of political decisions to make things happen. I just happened to be at the right place, at the right time.

Hays Street Bridge

Being president of a community organization such as a neighborhood association is a rewarding, humbling and frustrating experience all rolled up into one package. Neighborhood associations are the rawest form of democracy where folks can voice an opinion as part of the civic process that can shape a neighborhood and influence elected officials. Being in a leadership role of a neighborhood association role requires patience, perseverance, a thick skin, good organizational and leadership skills. Mostly, you need a willingness to serve, be accessible, responsive and have the ability to connect with people. For those of you out there that aspire to serve as president of your neighborhood association here are some insights that I gained over the last 5 years:

Relationships Matter
Never underestimate the power of relationships and good will. Always keep in mind that people matter and so do their concerns.You may have the title of president and have multiple degrees or certificates but they don't mean a thing if can't connect with people. That means following up when someone calls you about a concern or a complaint. The little things matter. Common sense matters. Credibility is the bottom line and you earn that by treating people with respect and dignity.

Community Fair in Dignowity Park-2009

Be Flexible
All organizations need structure and neighborhood associations are typically govern by a set of by laws. Learn the by laws and follow them without becoming rigid in your thinking. You need to find a balance between structure and letting things happen organically. In a changing neighborhood like Dignowity people need to feel that they are part of a movement and that their voice matters. It's good to have structured agendas for meetings and committees that do specific tasks but you also need to feel comfortable with the ambiguity that comes when people are allowed to be creative. Not all neighborhoods are alike and Dignowity stands out, at least for now, as a neighborhood where diversity and eclectic notions blend nicely as residents still feel the need to build community.

Learn the Regs
Serving as president of a neighborhood association is an education in zoning ordinances, code compliance, city and county government policies and bureaucratic acronyms. If you happen to live in a historic district then you need to gain some understanding of design guidelines and become familiar with preservation issues. Never stop learning!

Dig into the Issues
Learn as much as you can about whatever issue is affecting your neighborhood. For example, gentrification has become a hot topic for urban core neighborhoods such as Dignowity as revitalization efforts or zoning changes are starting to change the face of the neighborhood. In fill housing, the quality of our schools, public safety, and quality of life issues are topics that are neighborhood agenda issues especially in an urban core neighborhood. In a historic district like Dignowity you need to evaluate how historic preservation issues and design guidelines can impact a neighborhood economically. Layer that with developers looking to build new construction in your historic district and immediately a tension forms. Your life just got more interesting!

Advocate or Activist

Will you be an advocate or activist when comes to your neighborhood association? These two terms are often used interchangeably but there is a difference in their definitions. An advocate is typically one who speaks on behalf of a group or another person. An activist is an individual who makes an intentional action to bring about social or political change. I saw myself more of an advocate than an activist especially in the role of representing the neighborhood association's interests either in the media or in forums where public relations are important. On the flip side, you will more than likely have to deal with the activists in your group. Not a bad thing, it tends to keep things real!

It's Not Personal
Neighborhood politics tend to be raw and at times unfiltered. In the time I served as president I was harangued, demonized, and generally disliked by folks that were on opposite sides of an issue. This was especially true during the period when the brewery project became such a hot topic. I had to acknowledge that the criticism directed towards me was not personal. It comes with the territory of being the face of the neighborhood and supporting the positions that the association takes. It's not personal!

Leadership Style
The thoughts I mention above are rooted in emergent leadership. I think that approach can serve any aspiring community leader. Emergent leaders are comfortable with not knowing all the answers. They typically seek consensus and behave more like a coach than a general. They share information freely and communicate clearly. They are energetic and tend to inspire others into action. They tend to be empathetic and compassionate. Collaboration is usually a favorite approach to getting things done because they see the value of multiple perspectives.
Does this style fit everyone? It depends on an individual's temperament, skill set and the lens through which one sees the world. In end what may matter most is to be comfortable with yourself, try not to step on any cow patties and have fun! When it's time to step aside you do so with grace.

As I mentioned, I really do welcome the chance to sit back a bit. I was fortunate to be a part of the initial wave of revitalization of the Eastside and my stint was truly a great ride. My hope is that things will continue to move forward, especially for the neighborhoods. I feel that perceptions are beginning to turn positive for the Eastside and our neighborhood.
I'll still be involved as I serve on other boards related to Eastside activities.....but..... in the meantime, perhaps I can convince my wife to buy that Teardrop trailer and hit the road for a spell!

Gentrification or Progress?

2014-03-10T04:47:00.003-05:00

Ever since moving into the neighborhood in 2007 I have been hearing noise from journalists, academics and anyone who thinks is an expert raise the issue of gentrification. Over the last couple of years our neighborhood has garnered its fair share of attention through the media and other informational sources namely because of the active revival and renewal of the neighborhood. In September of 2012 the Rivard Report, a widely read local blog that focuses on urban renaissance issues published wrote an article on the G word and Dignowity Hill: http://therivardreport.com/the-g-card-defining-gentrification-in-dignowity-hill/. Just recently an article appeared in the local newspaper in which the columnist describes the progress in Dignowity Hill as gentrification. You can read his article at: http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtown/2014/02/the-g-word-and-the-near-east-side/.

The Friedrich House

724 Olive St

Some people are quick to draw and voice conclusions that Dignowity is undergoing pronounced gentrification without looking deeper into what is really happening in the neighborhood. Undoubtedly the neighborhood is making progress in becoming an attractive place to live. The proximity to downtown, older but relative good housing stock, the historical character of the neighborhood, an active neighborhood association and the fact that it is still a neighborhood with a solid sense of community all have combine to create demand for Dignowity as a desirable urban core neighborhood. Add the Alamo Brewery project that is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2014 and a new market rate housing project on Cherry St and suddenly the buzz on the street is that Dignowity is the place to be.

Alamo Brewery Ground Breaking

Alamo Brewery Construction Site

Cherry Modern Housing

Is this demand for the neighborhood a symptom of gentrification? The answer is maybe, maybe not. Gentrification is a complex process of revitalization and change that has been around for generations. On one hand it can be a way to bring back a distressed neighborhood and bring much needed improvement to the quality of life in a struggling neighborhood. So gentrification to some degree can be a good thing. On the other hand, gentrification has justifiably developed a negative connotation because one of its effects is the displacement of poorer residents when newcomers come in. This tends to drive away long time and mostly poorer residents through higher rents or the buying up of distressed properties. In some cases gentrification is the result of intentional zoning changes that literally forces gentrification to be accelerated.

In Dignowity there is no evidence of the classic definition of gentrification that is generally characterized by wholesale displacement of residents by newcomers. The private investment occurring in the neighborhood has focused on vacant or abandoned houses or lots. As far as I know no one has complained about being displaced because newcomers pushed them out. Folks either sell their properties willingly or folks buy properties that are in various stages of disrepair. This trend has brought improvements to the neighborhood but the movement has been glacially slow which is a good thing. This has allowed the neighborhood and residents time to be sensitive to the changes that are occurring. What is interesting is that some of the long time residents say there are ok with these improvements and welcome the progress. Some of these long time residents are calling this process "re-gentrification" of the neighborhood. At the same time the new comers are bringing in much needed energy and resources and so far these folks are being sensitive and respectful of the neighborhood's character and fabric.

Restoration in progress - Hays St

Restored 1912 house - Burnet St

Restored house - Burnet St

To put things in another perspective, the neighborhood still has a number of challenges that need to be addressed. For example, infrastructure improvements are badly needed. In some parts of the neighborhood there are streets with no sidewalks or curbs and bad drainage. Many parts of the neighborhood could use improved street lighting. The demographics of the neighborhood indicate a large Hispanic population with many families and individual living near poverty levels. We have a critical need for infill housing. Walk any part of Dignowity and chances are you will see one of the many empty lots that litter the neighborhood landscape. Another challenge are absentee property owners who do not care about maintaining their properties. For many of us that chose to move into Dignowity we have accepted those challenges and are working to make the necessary improvements to raise the quality of life of the neighborhood and for residents.

St Charles St after a rain. No curbs, no sidewalks, no drainage

One of the many empty lots in the neighborhood.


Neglected house on Pine Street

Is gentrification happening in Dignowity Hill? May be, may be not. There is no question that newcomers have been moving into the neighborhood bringing with them a new energy. Many but not all long time residents have been accepting of the changes that are occurring. At the same time the neighborhood is still dealing with the general affects of disinvestment that has plague the eastside for the last three or more generations. The good thing is that neighborhood residents are beginning to engage in a conversation around gentrification. The reality, however, is that neighborhood revitalization does not occur without a degree of gentrification. The trick is to ensure that sustainable community building is occurring along with gentrification. That means improving the infrastructure, involving residents in creating a vision for the neighborhood, and strengthening the social fabric of the neighborhood. A key component to good neighborhood health are the schools. Great neighborhoods have great schools. we're not there yet, at least not in the public school arena. It has been suggested that policies be put in place to protected and incentivize long time and poorer residents from moving away. That would help mitigate some of the negative affects associated with gentrification. Ultimately we in the neighborhood must work for change to happen if we expect the neighborhood to move forward.

Buyer Beware!

2014-03-01T06:01:00.006-06:00

The recent attention that our neighborhood has gotten is all well and good. In the last few weeks several articles have appeared in the local media that underscore how much Dignowity Hill has progressed in the minds and hearts of those that pay attention to these things. The interest in our neighborhood comes from its historical character, the architectural characteristics of the housing stock, the close proximity to downtown and the great sense of community that the neighborhood has been able to sustain over time. This has led to a high demand for houses in our neighborhood which is a good thing. That in turn has brought in investors that are buying these old homes who are then are selling them as completely restored or rehabbed houses. Here is where caution needs to be exercised!

For those who have their eyes on one of the recently restored house or a fixer upper in the neighborhood, here are some things to keep in mind:

As a buyer the real estate agent is not your friend! Realtors are sales people working for the seller not the buyer. They are motivated to get the highest price possible to maximize their commissions. I'm not saying that realtors are not useful, they can provide great information regarding a property, but keep in mind that they are trying to sell you a house and their interests lies with the seller not the buyer.

Do your homework! There is no excuse to not be well informed about a neighborhood or a property. There are a number of on line services that can provide basic information about a property. Services like Zillow or Realtor.com are good starting points. You can also research property records through the county's tax appraisal web site. For San Antonio properties you can go to http://www.bcad.org/ for the Bexar County Appraisal web site to search for property information by owner, address or account number or DBA.

Older houses present a unique set of issues that need to be carefully assessed. If you're interested in a fixer upper then you need to understand that you will be assuming all of the risk and costs associated in buying/fixing up a distressed property. If you're buying a restored or rehabbed house then always get a house inspection done! Never take the word of the realtor or the contractor on the condition of an older house no matter how good the finish may look on the surface. A house inspection prior to finalizing a sale should assess the major structural and functional systems of a house. Structural assessments should always include the foundation especially if the house is built on a pier and beam foundation which is typical of older houses. The drainage around an older house should be assessed along with the foundation. Often times a foundation will fail because of poor drainage that allows water to seep underneath a house. The roof should always be checked for leaks, the age of the roof and assess the integrity of the rafter and trusses. The inspections should also include an assessment of the attic insulation. Make sure it is up to code!

Get a survey done. While a survey is always done as part of the closing on a property make sure you that you review the survey before you sign off on the a property. This is especially critical in an older neighborhood where property lines make become compromised by encroaching fence lines or in some cases houses that have shifted onto the neighbors property line.

Assessment of the functional systems such electrical, plumbing and HVAC in an older house is a must. Ideally it is optimal to upgrade these systems in older houses as often times the wiring and plumbing is outdated and/or does not meet current code. Ask if permits were pulled for any of construction work done on the house. By code any work done on electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems should be performed by a licensed individual or company. As a consumer you have the right to know if the quality of the work performed met current standards and codes. A permit ensures that any work performed on house systems meets code and requires an inspection by the city for approval. In San Antonio you can check the city's Planning and Development website to research if permits were pulled for any property undergoing construction. Go to http://www.sanantonio.gov/dsd/index.asp to access permit information.

The bottom line: Be prudent, do your homework and ask lots of questions!

Slum Watch in Dignowity

2014-01-13T18:21:00.001-06:00

Lets face it, we have a slum lord problem in our neighborhood. We have abandoned and neglected properties and in some cases dangerous structures that create unsightly blight. In the midst of what is becoming a tangible revitalization effort in our part of the world we are still saddled with properties that are owned by individuals or investors that for whatever reason do not take care of their properties. Neglected and distressed properties are a huge problem for neighborhoods and the city. Studies have shown that vacant and distressed properties have an adverse affect on a neighborhood's quality of life, property values and the overall sense of community. Vacant and neglected buildings raise the probability of increased crime as they become havens for petty burglars or drug dealers/users. Despite the fact that residents and the neighborhood association over the last several years have loudly complained about these properties there seems to be little or no progress made on this front. Something needs to done.

A friend of mine recently sent me a link to a blog called Baltimore Slumlord Watch, you can find the blog at http://slumlordwatch.wordpress.com/about-us/ The blog began in 2009 as a way for Baltimore residents to share information about the city's many slumlords. Started by a resident who was tired of watching out of town “investors” and others who can negatively impact neighborhoods as a result of their negligence. The blog has become a way of publicly calling out property owners who let their properties become an eyesore.

Last year one my neighbors, Tyler Tully, wrote an excellent article in the Rivard Report (http://therivardreport.com/attacking-urban-decay-take-back-neglected-property/) that addressed the urban decay that affects San Antonio's inner city neighborhoods. The article referenced Baltimore as a model of how urban decay can be addressed. Unfortunately San Antonio is not Baltimore. As Tyler points out in his article, code compliance in San Antonio is like a pit bull with out teeth. There are city ordinances in the books that specifically spell out steps to be taken to address vacant structures and vacant lots. You can find those ordinances at http://www.sanantonio.gov/ces/responsibilites.aspx Yet it is a slow and excruciating process to hold these slum property owners accountable.

I personally know some of the good folks that work for the city's code enforcement department and as residents we tend to beat up on our code enforcement officers for the lack of visible progress on those neglected and abandoned properties that litter our own neighborhood. These code enforcement officers are doing their jobs within the confines of the ordinances. The real problem as Tyler pointed out in his article is the lack of an incentive for owners to fix up their properties because they do not want higher property taxes and current laws designed to protect responsible property owners in essence also protect irresponsible property owners. In his article, which was published in July of 2013, Tyler provided some great ideas and solutions that could be implemented to attack the urban decay that is visible in our inner city neighborhoods. So here we are six months later and the only thing that I know of that has occurred is the reorganization of the city's code compliance department. We still have many of the same neglected properties that were present when we first moved into the neighborhood in 2007!

So in the spirit of the Baltimore Slumlord Watch blog I will periodically be posting an image of a neglected property in the Dignowity Hill area that has been deemed unsafe, abandoned or has been neglected beyond a reasonable amount of time. The information for these properties comes from public records that are easily accessible by anyone on the Bexar County Appraisal District web site: http://www.bcad.org/ The intention is to highlight these properties publicly and perhaps motivate both the city, county and these property owners to do something positive about their properties. We need to do something about this pernicious slum lord mentality. If you own property in Dignowity Hill then keep it clean or clean it up!

819 Lamar
Property Owner: Patel Balubhai
Legal Description:NCB 1368 BLK 5 LOT 19
This property has been declared a dangerous premise by the city.
A notice on the structure indicates that the property went before the city's Building Standards Board on November 14, 2013

New Year and New Starts!

2014-01-01T16:08:00.000-06:00

The start of a new year is traditionally when we make resolutions to better our selves, our community, our world. I've never been big on New Year resolutions since I feel new starts can be made at any time in our lives but in the spirit new beginnings for a new year here some thoughts.
My only resolution is kick start this blog! I haven't posted since June of 2013 and lots has happened in the last 6 months! To catch up and on a personal note, I left the corporate world of health care in April of 2013. Some may call it a retirement, after all I'm past 60 but I call it a transition. I'm busy with various projects such starting a guest house business, serving on several non profit boards and working for a local credit union as their community/business liaison on a part time basis. We're keeping our eyes out for another old house restoration/rehab project. I'm still serving as the president of our neighborhood association but that gig is coming to a close in April of this year. That's a good thing. Change is always good and its time for someone else to pull the cart. I have to say, however, that being the prez of our neighborhood association has been a great experience for me. I've learned lot about neighborhood and city politics, I have met some great folks as well as some folks I rather have not ever met. But most importantly it's a privilege to be involved in the process of community building.
Dignowity Hill has come a long ways in the time since we moved into the community in 2007. We continue to see private investment in the restoration or rehab of our older houses. A steady stream of new comers continues to either move in or raise the awareness of the neighborhood as a desirable place to live. On the other hand, the big disappointment is the lack of public investment in basic infrastructure improvements not just in our neighborhood but in the general area of the eastside. The economic summits that were organized in 2010 to chart a path for revitalization in the eastside have been a disappointment as well because neighborhood needs have not been addressed properly. Investors and potential businesses seeking to relocate to the eastside have sent a message to our elected officials and paid city staff that the basic infrastructure needs of the neighborhoods to be fixed first before consistent investment will take hold on the eastside. My hope in 2014 is that someone in city government can find a way to allocate more dollars for basic needs in the neighborhoods otherwise the already slow pace of revitalization could be slow down even further.

There are of course other bright spots even shining stars in the midst of the slow pace of revitalization. The Choice Housing Grant is starting make an impact in area of the eastside with persistent poverty. The Eastside Promise Neighborhood Education Grant is making some headway although its been slowed down by the bureaucracy of its administrative agency. These two grants represent close to $60 million in federal dollars. That's a lot taxpayer money going directly into the community. The best news to hit our neighborhood was the ground breaking for the Alamo Brewery to be built next to the historic Hays Street Bridge. Despite the controversy that this brewery generated, the construction of the brewery means private investment in the eastside, city support in the form of incentives and most importantly the opportunity to potentially create an environment to attract additional investment in area. It's all good at this point!

In August of 2013 a large scale mural was installed on the underpass of Nolan Street...see the image below. In many ways the mural with its dynamic use of color and free flowing graphic design represents the energy that has developed in our part of the world. This blog has always been about the happenings in and around Dignowity Hill and it will continue to be that way as we move forward into 2014 but look for an expanded view as well and like the mural my intent is to capture that energy as we move forward into making the world a better place. Peace in 2014!

Dedication of the Mural on the Nolan Street Underpass.

A Run Through the Neighborhood

2013-06-01T16:08:00.001-05:00

The 2nd Annual Bowden Fun Run/Walk was held today. What a turn out! Last year's inaugural event drew over 300 participants. This time around the event with 3 other schools invited to participate the event more than doubled in participant size. Over 800 folks joined in the event staged to promote wellness and fitness. The amazing thing about this event is that is free. The brain child of Bowden Elementary School assistant principal Greg Velasquez the run is designed to bring the community together while educating community members about the benefits of being physically active. The real pay off is in creating pride in our Eastside communities and breaking down old perceptions about the Eastside. Good health goes beyond the individuals, it applies to communities too!

Moving Forward

2013-05-28T07:09:00.000-05:00

It was recently announced that the owner of proposed micro- brewery to be built next to the Hays Street Bridge has changed the location where it will be built. The plans still call for the brewery to built next to the historic old bridge but it will be built on property owned by the brewery's owner, on the southside of the bridge. This is good news for the neighborhood and the Eastside. The project has been stalled since August 2012 when city council approved the sale of city owned land to the developer. The project has created controversy from the start. The bridge restoration group cried foul when the city moved to sell the land that the restoration group has insisted was to be used as a park.

The neighborhood has supported the project from the start. Much of the organized opposition has come from outside the neighborhood. The opposition has demonized the neighborhood association making accusations that the association is infiltrated by newcomers. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality the folks that have organized the opposition do not live in the neighborhood and therefore do not really have a good understanding of what is behind the support by the neighborhood. None of these folks have ever sat down with me or others in the neighborhood to talk about why we don't need another park and would rather see a project that can generate jobs.

The basic truth to all of this is that our neighborhood has supported the project because of the potential of being able of kick starting sorely needed economic development in and around the neighborhood. More importantly, getting the brewery project off the ground will be a first step in tearing down some of the negative perceptions about the Eastside.

For my part I'm glad to hear that the brewery will be moving forward.

Next Phase

2013-05-11T05:59:00.000-05:00

As I write this it's been over a month sine that I left my corporate job in healthcare. I had been mulling about making a change since the end of 2011 but for a number of reasons I had put off taking step in into "retirement". In November of last year I hit the big Six O. That milestone got me thinking that perhaps the time was right to start transitioning to the next phase. I have worked in some capacity in healthcare for close to 40 years. I felt ready to move on but not necessarily ready to retire. You see I'm not a retirement kind of guy. I have always resisted the notion that I would someday just stop working and live my days out in relative leisure. So part of my inner struggle was answering the question: what will the next act to look like?

One thing is for sure whatever the next phase looks like it will not include working for a large corporation. The next act will be directed by me as much as possible, it will be community minded,

it will include pursuing and exploring the creative/artistic element that's in all of us, it will include being entrepreneurial, it will include more time with family,friends and our dogs, and most importantly it will not be "retirement"!

Our Family

Jennifer, Barb and Me

Monica,Ronnie, Ryan and Alyssa

Cultural Exchange Rotarian Style

2013-04-28T16:56:00.001-05:00

I'm a Rotarian. Not too many folks know that. Rotary International is a world wide organization of service oriented individuals. Being a Rotarian means above all sharing time, talents, and vocational experiences for the good of the community. There is no secret handshake or mysterious rituals only the 4 Way Test which asks 4 basic questions: Of the Things we Think, Say or Do: 1) Is it the Truth?, 2) Is It Fair to All Concerned?, 3) Will it Build Goodwill and Better Friendships? and 4) Will it be Beneficial to All Concerned? Our club has an unofficial 5th question: Is it Fun?...so that gives you an idea of the mindset of own group of Rotarians.

One of the many interesting functions that we participate in as Rotarians is something called the Group Study Exchange (GSE) where visiting Rotarians from around the world can spend up to 4 weeks visiting other countries in a cultural and vocational exchange experience.

This past week our club hosted a group of folks, 3 men and 2 women, from India as part of the GSE experience. My wife and I hosted the 2 ladies. They stayed at our guest house and got to experience a little of Dignowity Hill.

It was a whirlwind event as the team did some sight seeing, visited with other Rotarians in SA and did some Fiesta time as well. For Barb and I it was a unique experience to get to meet and know Kohlia and Nevedita and exchange ideas of our cultures, work and lifestyles. Kohila is a history teacher was very interested in our educational system. We spent time with her as she visited and toured Bowden Elementary School in Dignowity for a couple of hours. Nevi is a psychologist and was interested in learning about the delivery of mental health services.

The team left San Antonio this afternoon and moved on to San Marcos where they will continue their visit in Texas. Their time with us was way too short to really get to know them but we are richer for having them come into our lives even for a micro span of time.

Kohila and Nevi

Kohila, Barb and Nevi

Fellow Rotarian Kyle Contreras with our guests and Barb

Rotarian Byron Miller with our Indian guests, Murall, Muthu and Madhavan

Rotarians enjoying Brunch at Caroline's House

Presentation by our Indian Guests

Fiesta from Dignowity

2013-04-27T06:38:00.000-05:00

This past week San Antonio celebrated Fiesta Week, our annual homage to party, food, drink and general indulgence. There's a carnival, parades, a party called NIOSA(Night in Old San Antonio) and all sorts of debauchery. Officially, Fiesta commemorates the defeat of Santa Anna's Mexican army at the battle of San Jacinto but that historic fact is generally lost as most San Antonians concentrate on the fun, food, and drinking part of Fiesta.

We're not big Fiesta goers. We tend to steer away from the big crowds associated with Fiesta. Having been born and raised in SA I've been to enough Fiesta events over the years to get it. The events I make an except to my rule of avoiding crowds are the parades....not the River parade but the day and the night parades. We usually try to make it to at least one of the Fiesta parades and since we moved to Dignowity 5 years ago we've developed our own approach to watching the parades, actually we sort of become part of the parades.

Three years ago we decided that instead of sitting down to watch the parades we would get to the parade route early to walk up the route to the staging area where the parades begin. This is easy enough for us because the parade route is literally 7 blocks from our front porch so we save the headache of trying to find parking by taking a stroll down the hill from our house.

This year we got to the parade route shortly after the vanguard of the parade had started down Broadway but no matter we were able to wind our way along the sidewalks toward the staging area on Grayson Street. The staging area is near the Pearl complex and it is literally located underneath the overpasses of US 28. This creates a great collection point of sound and organized chaos as the bands warm up, the floats are lined up, people milling around and you get to see all the local politicians, Fiesta Royalty and assorted characters. The highlight of this year's venture into Fiesta land was almost getting arrested by one of SA's finest for being being in the wrong place at the right time. Actually, I don't think he was going to arrest us but the cop certainly got annoyed with us!

In end we covered over 3 miles of walking along the parade route, we met some really cool folks and enjoyed our little piece Fiesta!

Scenes from our stroll along the Battle of Flowers Parade route and staging area:

Sad Night in Dignowity Hill

2013-02-03T06:19:00.002-06:00

Childress Memorial Church of God in Christ

Stained Glass Windows

Church was built in 1908

Rows of Windows on Pine Street side.

Windows on Bell Tower

After the Fire

What remains of the Bell Tower

It was a sad night in Dignowity the night that Childress Memorial Church burned to a rubble. It left a congregation homeless and our neighborhood stunned at how quickly this beautiful structure went up in flames. The historic church building was built in 1908 by a Baptist congregation that then sold the property to Childress in 1964. The church building was a landmark in the neighborhood and the congregation provides a strong presence of stability. This is the second time in the history of this congregation that a fire has displaced them. It was because of a fire that destroyed their previous home church in the early 60's that led the congregation to Dignowity Hill. Now their beloved building is gone and the congregation will begin determining what to do next.

My hope is that the congregation decides to stay in Dignowity Hill. Besides the fact that I loved the old church building it was the graciousness of the congregation with neighborhood that touched me the most and it is for them that I share in their loss. Buildings can be replaced. Replacing a spirit filled community such as Childress is another matter.

Pushcart Derby Rolls Again!

2012-10-30T19:46:00.000-05:00

The 8th Annual Pushcart Derby was held this past weekend. What a blast! The derby which was founded by local artist Cruz Ortiz as a performance art event has morphed into a community based event that brings the Dignowity Hill community together for a day of rogue silliness and competitive pushcart racing! This year's derby was a great success thanks to the efforts of Rina Moreno, derby manager and queen and her co conspirator Mike Belardi who together put on one of the best derby's yet!

Team Calypso

Hmmmmm!

This is serious!

Janet Grojean from Tx Public Radio

The winning team: The Highland Park Fliers

The Little Luchaderos

Safety Check

What the ....

Rina and Mike deserve all the credit for making this happen. Over the last 8 years the derby has evolved into a great community event that typifies what Dignowity Hill is all about! We hope that this will continue for many years to come!!

Lockwood Park Is Moving on Up!

2012-10-07T07:04:00.000-05:00

The rock seating installation in Lockwood Park is moving along nicely. Workers have been working feverishly for the last couple weeks and we're starting see visible progress! Once completed the are will be transformed into a nice gathering space with a great view of downtown!
The project was the award winning submission of the Lighter Quicker Cheaper neighborhood revitalization contest sponsored by Texas Public Radio (TPR). The idea for the concept came from a Dignowity Hill resident who thought it would be cool to improve the seating in one of the parks to view the downtown fireworks displays. Working with neighborhood residents, the city's Parks and Recreation department and TPR the final concept for the seating was decided upon in September. The project will be completed by the time the annual Pushcart Derby rolls around on Oct 27, 2012 when the seating will be dedicated and celebrated!

The G-Word

2012-09-29T13:24:00.000-05:00

My neighbor and friend Bekah McNeel recently published a couple of articles about Dignowity Hill and the g-word....gentrification. Bekah writes for the Rivard Report, an on line blog dedicated to urban renaissance, neighborhoods and politics in and around San Antonio. Bekah and her husband Lewis are recent newcomers to the neighborhood. They bring a fresh set of eyes and energy to our old neighborhood. In many ways they represent the young professionals that are attracted to an urban core neighborhood like Dignowity. Their enthusiasm is helping drive the current renewal of Dignowity.

View of downtown from Lockwood Park

Three years ago I was asked by a local media reporter if I thought gentrification would eventually take hold in Dignowity. At the time the neighborhood was just starting to get noticed by the city, the real estate community and urban pioneers looking for the next cool neighborhood. I remember responding that Dignowity was far from any gentrification trendiness as I thought of the infrastructure improvements that were and still are badly needed. Three years later the g- word has surfaced again, most recently with the approval of the micro brewery project that will be built next to the Hays Street Bridge.

As Bekah points out in her articles, gentrification is typically defined by the movement of higher socio-economic group into a less affluent neighborhood resulting in significant changes in the local culture. While it's hard to measure the actual effects of gentrification there is some evidence that property values tend to increase, rents also tend to increase and some displacement of people takes place as rents go up as a result of gentrification. In the five years that we have lived in Dignowity we have certainly seen a small but key movement of professionals, creative types and city government workers into the neighborhood who want to live closer to the downtown action but do not want to live or can afford downtown condos.

Historic District

Bekah interviewed several long time residents for her articles and what I found enlightening was the notion that these folks had about gentrification of the neighborhood. They called the current renewal of Dignowity "re-gentrification". All neighborhoods have memories and for current long time residents there was a time in the recent past, perhaps 40 or 50 years ago, when the neighborhood was vibrant, thriving and perhaps even middle class. Go back to the 1870's through the early 1900's and Dignowity was considered an "exclusive" neighborhood of upper incomes with it's own water system and home to well known names in business and professions. Over time the neighborhood changed as a result of being boxed in by the coming of the railroad and industry. Sometime in the 1960's the neighborhood began a slow decline as folks started to flee the inner city, benign neglect from the city in keeping infrastructure maintained and the construction of Highway 281which literally cut off the Eastside and Dignowity Hill from downtown.

Community Involvement

So here we are in 2012 and another cycle of renewal is taking place in Dignowity. What I'm most impressed with my long time residents neighbors is that they see change as inevitable and a natural progression towards a positive outcome. They are not threaten by the recent newcomers who perhaps have a different view of the world. The message from these folks is to get involved in community issues and activities. I like the fact that people like Bekah and others are being thoughtful about the changes that we're wanting to see while being respectful of the culture and history of the neighborhood. So I'm encouraged that the blending of newcomer ideas and long time resident sensibilities will result in a much improved neighborhood but where the notion of community will continue to be the reason why we live here.

You can find Bekah's postings on the Rivard Report at: http://www.therivardreport.com/

The Derby is On!! Good News for Lockwood Park!

2012-09-23T11:08:00.000-05:00

The 8th Annual Pushcart Derby is on for Sat October 27, 2012 from noon till 7pm! The brain child of artist Cruz Ortiz, the derby has evolved from his idea of bringing together a group of artist friends for a day of artistic, fun, and somewhat competitive racing of hand made pushcarts to an event that has grown to be the signature event of the year for the neighborhood. One thing remains the same and that is the spirit of the derby: which is to bring families, kids and neighbors together to enjoy a day of fellowship and community building. And the pushcarts still need to be hand made with available materials!
For more info on the derby go to:
http://www.facebook.com/TheOfficialDignowityHillPushcartDerby

On the same day as the derby we will have an "unveiling" celebration of the Texas Public Radio (TPR) Lighter Quicker Cheaper award for Lockwood Park. Back in August TPR in partnership with the City, the Project for Public Spaces, and the AIA San Antonio asked the city residents to re-imagine a public space in their own respective neighborhoods across the city. A concept submitted by one of our neighbors became one of 5 finalists and eventually came in as the top idea. The concept was refined to constructing designated seating using rock ledges and terracing to take advantage of the view of downtown. Construction is scheduled to beging soon and will be completed by pushcart derby day. For more info regarding this exciting improvement to Lockwood go to: http://tpr.org/articles/2012/05/lqc.html

Progress

2012-09-22T07:13:00.000-05:00

Ok, maybe it's not that big of deal for neighborhoods that have good, basic infrastructure already in place but for older urban core neighborhoods like ours, getting new sidewalks installed IS a big deal! Some things just take awhile to get done but after almost 3 years years of pushing for sidewalk repairs the city finally came through for us. There are still areas of the neighborhood that don't have sidewalks, curbs or good drainage but this is a step in the right direction. It's amazing what new concrete can do for appearances!

How about this, a new outdoor restroom was installed in Lockwood Park! This is a small victory! Our parks have not had restroom facilities for a number of years because of budget cuts but I could never figure out why other parks in more affluent areas of the city seem to have these amenities while parks in neighborhoods in the urban core are neglected.

New DHNA Website

2012-08-06T12:38:00.000-05:00

When you get a chance visit the new Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association website at http://www.dignowityhill.org/.

There's a new logo that was designed by neighbor Sonya Castro along with lots of other great info and pics about Dignowity Hill.

The old association web site will be shutting down shortly.

Remember the Bobcats-Emerson Jr HS

2012-08-06T06:41:00.003-05:00

You never know what serendipity can bring to your feet. I was working in the community garden on Sunday morning when these two gentlemen showed up. Apparently, they were former students of the old Emerson Junior High School and they were there to take a group picture with other former classmates.
Waldo Emerson Junior High School was located in the buildings of what is now the Ella Austin Community Center. The school was in operation from the early 1950's through late the 1960's when classes were moved to another middle school and Emerson Junior High was shut down. It was the neighborhood junior high school back before someone got the bright idea of calling them middle schools.

The gathering of former students that morning had all graduated from Emerson in the late 1950's to mid 1960's. The group graciously allowed me to intrude in their gathering. It was fun listening to their stories of how the neighborhood was back in the day. Most of them had moved away to other parts of the city but their affection for Emerson, each other and the old neighborhood was readily apparent. You just never know what stories you may stumble upon on a Sunday morning in Dignowity Hill.