Northwood Hills Homeowners Association, Inc.


updated 31 Dec 1998	Northwood Hills Homeowners Association, Inc. Summer 1998 Newsletter General Election : 4 New Directors The July 13th Homeowners meeting, held at Fretz Park, elected the following new Directors: Larry Baker Barbara Dunn Glyn Jordan Cris Murrey Remaining on the Board are Dr. Bill Stutts and Ann Milvenan. This still leaves us one Director short. The main topic of discussion was our falling membership. Since December 31, 1997, we have lost 55 members. The new Board Pledged to make this their top priority over the next three months. To do this we will be Mailing our newsletter, first class, to all 1,145 homes in our area to be certain everyone knows the problems we face. A follow up first class mailing will be sent to all 1100 homes in our area, by mid September, listing the many advantages of being a dues paying member. To join please check out our section on joining. Shortly after this mailing, volunteers will walk every block in Northwood Hills to enroll new members. If you want to help, please contact Cris Murrey at 972-386-6111. Or e-mail her at area2b@northwoodhills.org. Thanks. Patrol Update Recently, a Northwood Hills woman, while walking at 7:30pm in the area of Northwood Hills Elementary, sensed the presence of a man driving and parking a sports car slowly in the area. The woman went straight home and called our Patrol. The Officer told her that two other women had flagged him down and reported the same story. The driver of the car must have seen the patrol car as well because when our officer tried to find him, he was long gone! Thank goodness for the NHHA Patrol. Too bad we can't afford 24 hour security! Increasing Home Values Recent Sales statistics indicate that our home values are increasing! During the first half of 1998 37 homes sold in Northwood Hills with an average sales price of $325,000. You have an investment worth protecting, and protecting your investment is the primary objective of the Northwood Hills Homeowner's Association. City Government & Community Relations Barbara Dunn is Director of Communication Relations. Barbara is actively meeting with other neighborhood associations that have common interest with NHHA for such activities as crime, zoning and code enforcement. Brenda Jones, immediate past president of NHHA is working with Dallas City Council persons on important council business which affect our neighborhood. For example, the recent resurfacing of several streets in our area is a result of Brenda's involvement and personal knowledge of city governance. Beautification Projects The NHHA beautification projects are under the direction of Wes Jeans, Chairman of the Beautification Committee. West has been instrumental in the parkway improvements on Meandering Way and Meadowcreek. Wes has a number of new projects planned but awaiting Association funding. Holly Tree Apartments For eight years, this association has been fighting to have the Holly Tree apartments torn down due to the noncompliance of the apartments with the current Dallas zoning ordinance. The battles are finally over, and the apartments are coming down. During the initial fight several years ago, the Association successfully sought an order placing the apartments on an amortization schedule, at the end of which the owner would have to tear the apartments down. When this amortization period ran out last year, the owner sought to have the zoning changed, which would have allowed the apartments to remain. Again our association took up the fight, and again succeeded. Although the effort consumed a great deal of the association's income in the last 18 months, not to mention hundreds of hours of work by our board members and other volunteers, the effort and investment was well worth it. These apartments, which were the location of numerous criminal offenses, and which definitely reduced the value of surrounding properties and major portions of our neighborhood, are now vacant and in the process of demolition. The association offers thanks to its attorney, Michael Jung, whose legal expertise and knowledge of city hall processes were instrumental in our success (his proud mother Paula is a member of our association). We also offer thanks to past and current city council representatives, Max Wells, Sandy Greyson and Lois Finkelman, who presented our arguments and positions at a number of official steps and meetings along the way. Finally we offer thanks to all of our board members and volunteers who spent so much time and effort on this project the past eight years, and in particular to board member Gary Sommerfelt, who led the final fight the last two years. The demolition of the apartments has been underway for several months, and some of you have inquired why it is taking so long. The answer is that the owner has adopted a large scale recycling program at the site. If you drive by, you will notice that a large portion of the building materials (bricks, lumber, etc.) are being segregated and removed for reuse. While this process takes longer than other demolition processes, on balance it is to be applauded. While the association definitely wanted the apartments removed, we see no reason not to cooperate with the owner and all other involved parties to encourage recycling and see the put to an appropriate use. We therefore encourage anyone inconvenienced by the time it is taking to clear the site to bear with us. Remember, another potential skirmish lies ahead when redevelopment plans are submitted for this property in the future.
*NHHA Summer 1998 Newsletter*
Comments? Please drop us an email. Material Copyright © 1998 Northwood Hills Homeowners Association, Inc.

updated 31 Dec 1998

Northwood Hills Homeowners Association, Inc.
Summer 1998 Newsletter

General Election : 4 New Directors

The July 13th Homeowners meeting, held at Fretz Park, elected the following new Directors:

Larry Baker
Barbara Dunn
Glyn Jordan
Cris Murrey

Remaining on the Board are Dr. Bill Stutts and Ann Milvenan. This still leaves us one Director short.

The main topic of discussion was our falling membership. Since December 31, 1997, we have lost 55 members. The new Board Pledged to make this their top priority over the next three months. To do this we will be

Mailing our newsletter, first class, to all 1,145 homes in our area to be certain everyone knows the problems we face.
A follow up first class mailing will be sent to all 1100 homes in our area, by mid September, listing the many advantages of being a dues paying member. To join please check out our section on joining.
Shortly after this mailing, volunteers will walk every block in Northwood Hills to enroll new members.

If you want to help, please contact Cris Murrey at 972-386-6111. Or e-mail her at area2b@northwoodhills.org. Thanks.

Patrol Update

Recently, a Northwood Hills woman, while walking at 7:30pm in the area of Northwood Hills Elementary, sensed the presence of a man driving and parking a sports car slowly in the area.

The woman went straight home and called our Patrol. The Officer told her that two other women had flagged him down and reported the same story. The driver of the car must have seen the patrol car as well because when our officer tried to find him, he was long gone!

Thank goodness for the NHHA Patrol. Too bad we can't afford 24 hour security!

Increasing Home Values

Recent Sales statistics indicate that our home values are increasing! During the first half of 1998 37 homes sold in Northwood Hills with an average sales price of $325,000. You have an investment worth protecting, and protecting your investment is the primary objective of the Northwood Hills Homeowner's Association.

City Government & Community Relations

Barbara Dunn is Director of Communication Relations. Barbara is actively meeting with other neighborhood associations that have common interest with NHHA for such activities as crime, zoning and code enforcement. Brenda Jones, immediate past president of NHHA is working with Dallas City Council persons on important council business which affect our neighborhood. For example, the recent resurfacing of several streets in our area is a result of Brenda's involvement and personal knowledge of city governance.

Beautification Projects

The NHHA beautification projects are under the direction of Wes Jeans, Chairman of the Beautification Committee. West has been instrumental in the parkway improvements on Meandering Way and Meadowcreek. Wes has a number of new projects planned but awaiting Association funding.

Holly Tree Apartments

For eight years, this association has been fighting to have the Holly Tree apartments torn down due to the noncompliance of the apartments with the current Dallas zoning ordinance. The battles are finally over, and the apartments are coming down.

During the initial fight several years ago, the Association successfully sought an order placing the apartments on an amortization schedule, at the end of which the owner would have to tear the apartments down. When this amortization period ran out last year, the owner sought to have the zoning changed, which would have allowed the apartments to remain. Again our association took up the fight, and again succeeded.

Although the effort consumed a great deal of the association's income in the last 18 months, not to mention hundreds of hours of work by our board members and other volunteers, the effort and investment was well worth it. These apartments, which were the location of numerous criminal offenses, and which definitely reduced the value of surrounding properties and major portions of our neighborhood, are now vacant and in the process of demolition.

The association offers thanks to its attorney, Michael Jung, whose legal expertise and knowledge of city hall processes were instrumental in our success (his proud mother Paula is a member of our association). We also offer thanks to past and current city council representatives, Max Wells, Sandy Greyson and Lois Finkelman, who presented our arguments and positions at a number of official steps and meetings along the way.

Finally we offer thanks to all of our board members and volunteers who spent so much time and effort on this project the past eight years, and in particular to board member Gary Sommerfelt, who led the final fight the last two years.

The demolition of the apartments has been underway for several months, and some of you have inquired why it is taking so long. The answer is that the owner has adopted a large scale recycling program at the site. If you drive by, you will notice that a large portion of the building materials (bricks, lumber, etc.) are being segregated and removed for reuse. While this process takes longer than other demolition processes, on balance it is to be applauded.

While the association definitely wanted the apartments removed, we see no reason not to cooperate with the owner and all other involved parties to encourage recycling and see the put to an appropriate use. We therefore encourage anyone inconvenienced by the time it is taking to clear the site to bear with us. Remember, another potential skirmish lies ahead when redevelopment plans are submitted for this property in the future.

NHHA Summer 1998 Newsletter