June 2001

Town Hall meeting April 23 brings out resident concerns, but not enough residents. Infrastructure and auto traffic got most attention. See story on page 2 for detailed account of issues aired by attendees. Unsightly bulk trash too soon at curbside remains a big problem for N'wood Hills. How you can help clean up the neighborhood: use the Friendly Reminder on page 3 to notify an offending neighbor by placing a copy on their front porch. Request for set-back variance on Ashridge is denied, thanks to timely action by alert neighbors. NHHA officers and directors join in protest at city hearing. See page 5. Plans for 8th annual Fourth of July Parade are revealed on page 5. Mark your calendar now! Report on home sales in N'wood Hills shows nineteen sold YTD, with median price of $375,000. 34 more now on the market. Get details on page 4.

President's Message By Fred Williams Northwood Hills has provided a great show of spring color and beauty these past few months; unfortunately it has been marred by the unsightly early display of bulk trash. We had neighbors setting out huge curbside piles of trash as early as the last week in April. Your Association has arranged with the City for a standardized pick-up week throughout all sections of Northwood Hills - the week of the second Monday of the month. May 1 fell on a Tuesday, therefore the second Monday of the month didn't come around until May 14. Reading a calendar shouldn't be that difficult, but we want to make it as easy as possible for everyone, so we have included in this newsletter a form you can use to help your neighbors comply. It lists specific pick-up dates for each month remaining in this year. Please keep it and copy it so you can offer it to neighbors who need it. If this fails, call 311 and report offenses to Code Enforcement. Please take this step as soon as the offending trash is in place so that inspectors can determine that it is clearly in violation. Bulk trash put out too early is the single most frequent complaint I get - and I get a lot of them. Now for some good news. Our April 23 Town Hall meeting was a big success, although we would like to have had better attendance. Councilmembers Finkelman and Greyson addressed issues facing our City, and Deputy Chief McClain gave an update on crime in our area. City staff members were also present to answer questions. In May we defeated an attempt by a builder to change the building set-back on a property on Ashridge, which would have allowed him to build a house four feet closer to the street than Code permits. Why such a variance is undesirable is covered by an article inside. Don't forget our traditional July 4 Parade and fun for the entire family. See you there!

At April Town Hall meeting…

NEIGHBORS VOICE CONCERNS ABOUT AREA STREETS AND ALLEYS

On Monday evening, April 23, NHHA held a "Town Hall" meeting at Northwood Hills Elementary School. The results were both good and bad - lots of interesting questions were raised, but only about 100 area residents (of about 5,000) showed up to ask them.

The program included brief opening remarks by City Council representatives Lois Finkelman and Sandy Greyson, followed by a report from Deputy Chief Troy McClain on the crime situation in North Central Operations. Dr. Everett Williams, principal, then described upcoming improvements at NHE made possible by passage of the bond issue.

Staff members from various city departments were present to respond. What follows are summaries of the major issues discussed.

Cut-through traffic on Meadowcreek

Speeding autos in growing numbers are disturbing homeowners along this gently curving thoroughfare between Belt Line and Hillcrest. NHHA has attempted to reduce this traffic by means of a four-way stop sign at Meadowcreek and Crestmere, but the city has not yet responded. Lois Finkelman said she would follow up and attempt to move the request along.

Delayed resurfacing of Briarmead

Residents are concerned that this street remains the only one in Northwood Hills that has not been resurfaced. Mr. Steve White from Streets Department said that the work is scheduled for fall of this year.

Creeks overgrown with trees and brush

Concern over this problem which makes many of our creeks ugly and impedes water flow was, unfortunately, left unresolved. For the most part, creeks in our area are private and the responsibility of bordering property owners. No help from the city.

Alleys damaged by new garbage trucks

The city's new garbage collection system uses trucks heavier than before, and this is causing widespread damage to alleyways and adjacent property. Drivers are being retrained and disciplined, so there should be less damage in the future, but current damage is not likely to be repaired soon. The best we can expect near-term, according to Dwain Bowie of Sanitation, is black top temporary patching. The city is a year behind on more permanent alley repair, and resources are slim. NHHA will continue to follow up on this issue and try to improve our chances of getting our alleys fixed.

Median maintenance and mowing

Some interior medians in our neighborhood are maintained by NHHA, and are tended to on a regular basis. Main artery medians such as Spring Valley and Hillcrest are done by the city every two weeks, weather permitting. Wet weather has reduced service and caused grass to grow faster. Things should improve this summer.

Problems at Hillcrest and Belt Line

A traffic study of this intersection should be completed early in June, resulting in dual turning lanes and new traffic signals. Work will begin late 2002. These improvements are expected to reduce accidents and dress up the appearance of this problem area.

FROM
Northwood Hills Homeowners Association, Inc.

A Friendly Reminder

The Dallas City Code states that Bulk Trash cannot be left at curbside earlier than the Thursday before the scheduled collection week. You must have bulk trash ready for pick-up at curbside by 7:00 AM on Monday. The City can and will impose a fine of as much as $2000 for violation of this law. Please store bulk trash at the rear of your property until the proper time for setting it out.

All of Northwood Hills now has the same schedule for collection of bulk trash. It is the week of the second Monday of each month. For the remaining seven months of this year, the actual dates for your bulk trash pick-up are listed below. Please keep this list and consult it before putting bulk trash at your curbside. Your entire neighborhood will benefit from adherence to this City Code - and so will the value of your home and property.

Thank you on behalf of your neighbors and NHHA!

Note: If you have large amounts of tree trimmings in between scheduled bulk trash pick-ups, call 311 to arrange for the City to pick them up. The City will tell you in advance what the fee for this service will be.

Webmaster's note: this is also shown on the rolling quarterly NHHA calendar.

Real estate update…

MEDIAN SALES PRICE OF NORTHWOOD HILLS HOMES IS $375,000 YTD

For the first five months of 2001 (through May 25) nineteen homes in Northwood Hills have been sold, according to the Greater Dallas Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. The average sales price was $409,639 and the median price was $375,000. The price per square foot ranged from a low of $76.67 to a high of $154.75. Average number of days on the market was 58.

Variations are due to location and condition of homes, as well as amount and quality of any updating improvements. There are currently 34 homes on the market in Northwood Hills with asking prices ranging from $189,900 to $975,000.

When new neighbors move in near you, please inform Jack Wahlquist.

Whether you walk, run or ride…

HIKE & BIKE LINKS VALLEY VIEW PARK, WHITE ROCK LAKE

Need a place to exercise - walk, run, bike or roller-blade? Try the 7-mile hike & bike trail that begins at Valley View Park, southeast corner of Hillcrest and Valley View, just north of LBJ. The two-way path runs along White Rock Creek all the way to White Rock Lake. You'll pass the Fair Oaks Tennis Center about half way there, so you may want to take along your tennis racket and a partner. The path is easy to follow, has distance markers every half-mile, and there are drinking fountains and rest stops strategically placed along the route for your convenience.

Once at the lake, the path joins up with the White Rock Lake bike trail - a beautiful 14-mile circuit that takes you all around the scenic lake where you'll enjoy sailboats, stately homes, and a variety of wildlife. For the truly energetic, a full round trip - to the lake, around and back - is approximately 28 miles. Give it a try!

Something for everyone…

AT FRETZ PARK LIBRARY, ACTIVITIES ENTERTAIN AS WELL AS EDUCATE

Look at the lineup of summer activities at nearby Fretz Park Library and your imagination can't help but leap. There are stimulating events for folks of all ages. Whatever your interests, something is going on that you and others in your family are bound to enjoy. Check it out, then sign on and show up. After all, our Dallas Public Library system is there for your benefit. Take advantage of it!

REGULAR PROGRAMS
Bedtime Stories for Ages 3-5
Wednesdays 7-7:30pm.  Stories, songs, finger plays and other fun.

Preschool Storytime for Ages 3-5
Fridays 11-11:30am.  Stories, songs, finger plays and other fun.

Adult Library Databases and Beginning Internet Classes
June 2 & 16, July 7 & 21, 10-11am.  Advance registration preferred but not required.  Call 214-670-6420 for more information.

First Monday Book Discussion Group
June 4, 6:30-8:00pm. Favorite poetry -- bring your favorite short poem to share and discuss.
July 2, 6:30-8:00pm. A discussion of The Hours by Michael Cunningham.
August 6, 6:30-8:00pm. Discussion of Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt 

Library Live!
	Friday, June 15, 11am-Noon. 
Aunt Pittypat's Nursery Rhyme Time with Gene Ray Price will delight preschool children and their parents. 

	Tuesday, July 24, 2:30-3:15pm -
Kalinka Plus! Enjoy traditional  Russian folk music accompanied by stories and facts about Russia.

It's a Small World - Program/Discussion/ Conversation Series.
Saturday, June 23, 2-3:30pm. Kay Reynolds, Principal of Dobie Elementary School, will be speaker.
Saturday, July 21, 2-3:30pm.  Well-known speaker/author Rose Mary Rumbley will discuss America's Melting Pot of Mothers. Teen Scene.

	Tuesday, June 19, 7-8pm, ages 12-17
Stories and snacks from around the world. Dorayne Breedlove will tell exciting tales from India, the Orient, Mexico and Native America. Snacks from other countries will be sampled.
Tuesday, July 17, 7-8pm, ages 12-18
Teenage Communication Theatre (TACT). Trained teen performers will act out skits on topics such as teen stress, prejudice, drunk driving.
Adult family members welcome. The program is sponsored by 7-11.

SPECIAL EXHIBITS
Handicrafts from Bangladesh collected and displayed by Redwanner Rauf and Kohinoor Rauf.  Through June.
Unity in Diversity: Baha'I Temple Architecture organized and arranged by Bahieh Hashemi.  Month of July.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE ABOVE, CALL 214-670-6420

Fun, fun, fun for the family…

IF YOU LOVE A PARADE YOU'LL FALL FOR OURS THIS FOURTH OF JULY!

It's so much more than just a parade -- it's the 8th annual NHHA Fourth Full of Fun for Everyone! Wednesday, July 4, 2001!

Decorate your bikes, a float, or your car. Costume your kids and your pets. March with your sports team. Or just come to cheer for everyone else. There'll be prizes for the best costumes in the parade, then afterward a dunking booth, jumper, balloons, button man, games, and face painting. Food and drinks for sale by Cub Scouts. Wow!

Parade units will assemble in front of Northwood Hills Elementary School beginning at 9:30am. Parade starts at 10am. For more information, contact Mark and Lynn Carlton at 972-392-2749. Don't miss it!

City responds to homeowner protest…

TIMELY INTERVENTION BLOCKS CODE CHANGE AT ASHRIDGE HOMESITE

The following memo from NHHA president Fred Williams, tells the story as well as anything:

May 10, 2001

I have just returned home from the City Planning Commission and I am happy to say that they ruled against the re-plat of 13619 Ashridge Drive. The good guys won because our argument was so strong.

We have some people to thank in a big way. First Mr. Peter D'Apice who lives across from the subject property and was one of the neighbors who received notice from the City that a hearing was to take place. Peter sprang into action, contacted (former NHHA Director) Wes Jeanes who lives on Brookridge to help, got neighbors to sign a protest, and submitted a whole package to the Planning Commission to support why they should not approve the variance on the building set-back. Peter was also our principal speaker.

I followed Peter and distributed a document in opposition signed by our Board of Directors. I had also taken pictures of the neighborhood to show how really great Northwood Hills looks with our deep set-backs. They just aren't building them like this anymore, so our uniform set-backs are a valuable asset we need to protect. Liz Wahlquist followed me to the podium to support our opposition and it carried some weight since Liz used to serve on the Planning Commission. NHHA Board members Allen Rudy and Jack Wahlquist also attended to show support.

A word of caution about re-plats and Code variances. Only a limited number of people are notified (in case of a re-plat, only people who live within 200 feet of the property that is up for variance). If any of you ever get a notice from the Planning Commission be sure to let us know.

We got lucky this time - but without your help in the future we may not.

Always glad to report good news.

webmaster note: the printed version of this newsletter includes several pages of advertisements. The NHHA Board voted not to include those advertisements here on the website.

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