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Letter from Ed Cole, Alliance for Green Hills President
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This December Newsletter from the Alliance for Green Hills is like many messages and communications we receive as the year comes to a close. As we read, we both look back at the year that is nearly over, and, then, look ahead at the year that is about to emerge. For the Alliance, and many of you reading this, 2016 has been an active time to better understand our Green Hills community and the many issues and opportunities that we face. Our monthly Community Meetings have given us an opportunity to gain better understanding of the many components of life and living in our community. The November meeting is an excellent example of these new perspectives as we listened to folks from the Cumberland River Compact describe the valued water resources that surround us in the Green Hills Area. As we look ahead to 2017, we will continue to explore our community by focusing on perhaps our greatest challenges, traffic and transportation. As described in this Newsletter, our January meeting will center on legislation being proposed by our own Council Member Angie Henderson to encourage and support more rapid expansion of our sidewalk network. In February, at a special “Transportation Summit,” we will have a great opportunity to dig into the many factors that contribute to the challenges we face in driving, walking, cycling and using transit throughout Green Hills. I hope you will be able to take advantage of these, and other opportunities, for improving our community in 2017!
As the year comes to a close, I would like to share with all of you my deep gratitude for the selfless energy that our three Alliance for Green Hills Board officers have contributed to the Green Hills community. Jena Armistead, Elizabeth Miller and Susannah Scott-Barnes are simply amazing as they undertake the many activities that have turned the Alliance from an idea into a reality. In so many ways, each of them has stepped forward to make this organization a growing force in the neighborhood and community we call Green Hills. As the New Year arrives, I will share a toast in honor of each of them! We are so fortunate to have leaders such as these to help us plan and then bring about a future that we all envision for the community that surrounds us.
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Protecting Our Water - Cumberland River Compact
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Thank you to Cumberland Compact leaders, Will Caplenor and Mekayle Houghton (pictured above) for their presentation and Q&A at our end-of-year meeting. It was a great reminder that we all have a part to play in protecting our water resources.
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The Cumberland River Compact is dedicated to protecting our waterways, including Sugartree Creek, which runs through Green Hills in front of our neighborhood YMCA. It is classified as polluted by federal standards. The pollution comes from a variety of factors, from lawn chemicals to improper disposal of pet waste.
Failure to pick up after pets is the single largest household contributor to e. coli in our water.
A critical factor to the health of our waterways is stormwater runoff. As mature trees and natural landscapes are replaced with impervious surfaces, the stormwater overwhelms the remaining natural ground. Stormwater runoff carries pollutants directly into our waterways. While permeable paving is an alternative, it costs more than traditional paving. The Kroger gas station is an example of pervious concrete in Green Hills.
To address stormwater runoff and other issues, the Cumberland River Compact has received a Frist Foundation Grant to restore Sugartree Creek. This grant is the first of its kind in the country. Qualifying landowners will receive supplies to do their part to capture stormwater - including construction of a rain garden on their property! Learn more about rain gardens here. If you want to get involved, click below.
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Metro Council Member News
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Angie Henderson, Council Member for District 34, reports on her efforts to ensure that the Burton Hills to Bedford greenway is added back to the Greenways Master Plan.
CM Henderson, with co-sponsor Council Member Russ Pulley, is working to pass sidewalk legislation that works to limit instances where developers can pay a fee rather than build sidewalks. See below for more discussion.
CM Pulley cites continued progress with the conversations about alignment of the intersection at Crestmoor and Glen Echo. He also reports that he was principal for a day at Glendale Elementary, which was recently recognized as one of six blue ribbon schools in Tennessee. Congratulations to Glendale Elementary!
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CM Pulley encourages people to "Park Smart" at all times, but especially during this time of year. Do not leave valuables in plain sight in your car, as this is an invitation for thieves to break into your car.
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Special Thank You
What a great year of community engagement and education! We could not do it without our great partners at the Hampton Inn. Thank you to Lisa Blaustone and the Hampton Inn - Green Hills for your hospitality!
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Nashville Scene Article
Amy Eskind penned a story for the Nashville Scene about the growing frustration with the progress on building sidewalks, despite the $55M allocation. Kudos to Mina Johnson, Stacy Dorris, Ed Cole & Angie Henderson for their contributions to the article. Read the article here.
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Tennessean Article
The Tennessean reviewed two proposed ordinances to promote sidewalk access, one from Council Members Angie Henderson and one from Jeremy Elrod. The Henderson ordinance addresses fee payment in lieu of installing sidewalks and the Elrod ordinance addresses fee payment to close sidewalks during construction. Read the article here.
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CM Henderson To Speak on Sidewalk Legislation
On January 11, 2017, Council Member Angie Henderson will speak to the Alliance for Green Hills about her proposed sidewalk legislation. Coffee at 7:30am and program at 8:00am -- at the Hampton Inn - Green Hills, 2324 Crestmoor Road.
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DECEMBER 17: JOLLY TROLLEY - GREEN HILLS
DECEMBER 28: NO COMMUNITY MEETING
JANUARY 11: COMMUNITY MEETING ON SIDEWALK LEGISLATION
FEBRUARY 25: TRANSPORTATION SUMMIT
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The Alliance for Green Hills will hold monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of the month, rather than the fourth. The first meeting on this new schedule is set for January 11, 2017. We will keep the same time and place: 7:30am coffee, 8:00am program at the Hampton Inn - Green Hills.
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Transportation Summit Set for February 25th
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TRANSPORTATION SUMMIT
Lipscomb University
February 25, 2017
10:00AM-12:00PM
We received over 950 survey responses to the Green Hills Transportation Survey! Mark your calendars for our highly anticipated Transportation Summit. Experts will review your survey input and will talk about transportation in the Green Hills neighborhood.
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Thank you, Lipscomb University, for allowing us to use Stowe Hall for this important community event. Directions to Lipscomb University are here.
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Why Take the Car When You Can Take FREE Trolley?
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The Alliance for Green Hills is offering a FREE holiday trolley on December 17th from 10am to 4pm. It's fun and festive -- AND it keeps cars out of the heart of Green Hills on the weekend before Christmas! Trolley riders receive a card for discounts and special offers at participating retailers. Why hunt for a parking space when you can take a trolley!
HOW IT WORKS: 1. Park at Woodmont Christian Church, 2. enjoy a bite to eat from Freebirds World Burrito food truck, 3. listen to the Hillsboro High School singers sing holiday music, 4. take the trolley to the major shopping centers in Green Hills to finish up your holiday shopping. Easy. Relaxing. Fun.
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Thank you to the Hill Center Green Hills for sponsoring this first year event!
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Thank you to the Nashville Civic Design Center for their help in designing a landmark map for the Jolly Trolley event!
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Please consider the Alliance for Green Hills in your end-of-year giving plan. As you can see, we are gathering momentum and working towards some great things, including transportation-related initiatives big and small. Thank you for your support!
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Need a unique holiday gift? Why not support the Friends of Green Hills Park? Bumper stickers, t-shirts and more -- all featuring the logo shown here. For more information, email: friendsofghpark@gmail.com.
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OUR VISION
UNIFY the neighborhood
CREATE beautiful, functional spaces
BUILD a better Green Hills for all
OUR FOCUS FOR 2016
EDUCATE our community
GATHER our resources
IMPROVE our transportation
Invest in the Alliance for Green Hills. Invest in a better Green Hills for all.
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ALLIANCE FOR GREEN HILLS FOUNDATION
The Alliance for Green Hills Foundation was granted 501(c)(3) status in early March. This is an exciting step for our organization! Through this Foundation, we can do even more to realize our vision to BUILD A BETTER GREEN HILLS FOR ALL. Please visit our website for more information about the Foundation and to learn about opportunities to invest in projects to improve our neighborhood.
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