Southwest Lansing (MI) and my neighborhood

Part #2–Getting the cars to slow down on Starlight in southwest Lansing (MI)

September 18, 2009 · Leave a Comment

If you live in the city of Lansing, do you struggle with cars going too fast in your neighborhood?  Have you and your neighbors asked the city for help?  Has it worked?

In this video at City Council-member A’Lynne Robinson’s Second Saturday meeting where she meets with Third Ward constituents, Council-member Eric Hewitt talks about measures being discussed in the council’s Public Safety Committee to help residents.

You are invited to leave comments and reaction about car traffic in city neighborhoods.

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Getting the cars to slow down on Starlight in southwest Lansing (MI)

September 18, 2009 · 5 Comments

A short street in southwest Lansing-Starlight Lane-where residents enjoy the relaxed pace on the road have been inundated by diverted speeding traffic diverted from Waverly Road.  And residents are looking for help from city officials to find a solution.starlight

The city of Lansing has pulled the plug on their agreement to implement temporary barriers to through traffic in and out of Waverly Road.  Instead, according to Lansing City Council-member A’Lynne Robinson, the city has switched gears and started to construct sidewalks with curb and gutter for a portion of Starlight.

This frustration for the street residents was discussed at Robinson’s Second Saturday meeting last Saturday where she met with her Third Ward constituents.   The homeowners feel like the improvements are being forced on them and won’t have the same effect as the temporary barriers to through traffic.

She said that the issue has been discussed in joint meetings between the Woodmere and Averill Woods Neighborhood Associations.

Lansing (MI) Third Ward Council-member A'Lynne Robinson

Lansing (MI) Third Ward Council-member A'Lynne Robinson

The Starlight experience is a possible case study on traffic calming on city streets as more residents complain about neighborhood speeders and as the city budget tightens.

This is the first of two videos
from the meeting.  Please note: Click on the link to see the video.  The link will take you to the video player where you can watch it.  On this one Robinson describes the problem and the agreed on solution which was withdrawn.

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Buy some bulbs, grow a neighborhood

August 25, 2009 · 1 Comment

Help us with our fundraiser and earn free bulbs on qualifying orders!

Help us with our fundraiser and earn free bulbs on qualifying orders!

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What about the increased traffic on Averill, Malibu, Continental and Deerfield?

July 25, 2009 · 1 Comment

(Note of explanation: This from an e-mail sent yesterday by Averill Woods Neighborhood Association President Melissa Quon Huber to South Precinct Captain Theresa Symanski. )

Capt. Szymanski, thanks again for the wonderful support from LPD!!!!

Here are some things that came up later in the meeting that I needed to pass along:

PROBLEM: Speeding (and extra traffic) along Averill, Malibu, Continental, & Deerfield because of the Holmes/Waverly road closure

REQUEST: Can you enhance patrols of this area and issue tickets?Video 26 0 00 14-03

I’ve also made these requests of Andy Kilpatrick ( city transportation engineer) which will hopefully also help:

  • Add temporary stop signs to interior intersections to prevent a “straight shot” through the neighborhood.
  • Add temporary speed bumps to help slow the traffic
  • Bring the mobile traffic speed monitors into the neighborhood
  • Add permanent speed limit signs on Averill by the elementary school (One of our youth residents noticed that we have no speed limit signs anywhere in our neighborhood and that would be helpful even after Holmes and Waverly are re-opened)

→ 1 CommentCategories: Averill Woods Neighborhood Association · Lansing Police Department · Streets

VIDEO: Averill School playground lighting improvements described

July 24, 2009 · Leave a Comment

In this four-minute video of Lansing School District’s John Parks, head of security, details are provided about lighting changes at Averill School on the city’s southwest side.  He shared this information at last night’s meeting of the Averill Woods Neighborhood Association.

The school’s playground has been an afterhours gathering spot where most recently there has been a shooting and other violent activty.

The lighting changes, according to Parks, will result in upgraded lighting intensity turning night into day in the playground area with the improvements which will result in minimal cost to the school district.

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Last night’s meeting: Melissa reports great Averill Woods news

July 24, 2009 · 1 Comment

PLEASE NOTE:  This is from an e-mail mailed by Melissa Quon Huber, president of the Averill Woods Neighborhood Association about last night’s meeting.  Check the good news announced at the monthly meeting.

Just a quick heads up with some good great news….

Jim Davis (Assistant Superintendent of Lansing Schools) and John Parks (Head of Security for Lansing Schools) informed us tonight that all the new and improved lighting at Averill Elementary School should be in place by Friday, July 31st (except for one new light pole which will have to be installed later.)

We will get brighter and more efficient light bulbs and new filters to increase light output on existing lights.
We will also be getting some additional lighting.

They will be positioning all lights to shine on the back of the school property.

To top it off, the majority of the costs for the improvements are being offset by cost-savings from using more energy-efficient equipment.

We expect that the lights will be quite bright.  However, lights will not be directed at residential areas.

If your property borders the backside of the school, (e.g., Averill, Gingersnap, Sunderland, or Kilberry) you may notice the increased lighting from your home.

Please let us know how the lights affect your ability to see on to the school property.

Please share this information with your neighbors to let them know this is part of a larger crime prevention effort intended to benefit them.

This major accomplishment is a testament to the hard work and commitment of neighbors (Michelle Napier-Dunning, Jason Wilkes), Lansing Schools (John Parks, Jim Davis, Rosa Thill, Ken Jones), and Lansing Board of Water and Light (Roger Adsit, Calvin Jones) and probably even more folks working behind the scenes.  I’m sorry if I forgot anyone!

Thank you everyone!
Melissa

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Photos from tonight’s Averill Woods Neighborhood Association meeting

July 24, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Lots of positive things to talk about from tonight’s Averill Woods Neighborhood Association meeting.  Concerns expressed by residents are being addressed.  Check this blog tomorrow for details.  In the meantime, here are some photos from the meeting:

Video 5 0 00 01-19

Video 13 0 00 17-03

Video 17 0 00 01-29

Video 25 0 00 00-01

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REMEMBER: Tonight’s (Thursday, Jul. 23) meeting of the Averill Woods Neighborhood Association

July 23, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Tonight’s meeting of the Averill Woods Neighborhood Association starts at 5:30 pm with a light supper to be followed by the business meeting at 6 pm with an agenda that concentrates on two recent shootings in the area.  Reports will be given from a wide-variety of groups on actions to deal with concerns.

The meeting will be at the Trinity AME church on West Holmes Road.

You are invited to attend, especially if you live in Averill Woods or other areas of the south side.

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Averill Woods Neighborhood Association “Draft” Strategic Plan

July 23, 2009 · Leave a Comment

The Averill Woods Neighborhood Association has been busy looking at our challenges and drafting a strategic plan to deal with them.  Making use of the varied strengths and expertise represented in our southwest Lansing area, the association has identified top concerns and is working to empower residents to find and implement effective responses.

You are invited to download our strategic plan and to leave comments on this blog post.

averillwoods

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Announcing: Averill Woods Neighborhood Association Summer 2009 Photo Contest

July 16, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Get out your cameras while it’s still summer!

We need you (youth and adults) to take pictures of the people and places we love in our neighborhood.

  • We need photos that reflect the diversity of age, race, occupation,Averill Woods Neighborhood Association family composition, and talents in our neighborhood.
  • We need photos of neighbors interacting with others or enjoying the neighborhood outdoors in a variety of ways (walking the dog, washing the car, riding bikes, running through the sprinkler, playing at the park, mowing the lawn, etc.) or working on their hobbies. Keep reading →

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