 The Upham’s Corner SNI led neighborhood walk began at The City School a
little after one o'clock on December 22, 2011. Despite the time of
year, the showing was impressive – SNI, DSNI, Main Street, BPD, Upham's
Corner News, businesses and a dozen or so area residents.
Missing were city organizations that typically attend such events - ISD, BTD and Neighborhood Services.
Matt Feeney, who leads the SNI group, had staked out the walking route
in advance
- the business district and the streets that had been covered on the
June SNI walk (Humphreys, Groom, Eastman, Wendover, Belden). Max
MacCarthy took notes and Nancy Conrad took the photos requested by Mr.
Feeney. One resident asked why they were going to cover the same
streets as on the June walk noting that the SNI group had previously
stated they would select a different section of Upham's Corner each
time.
The walkers headed down Hamlet Street onto Columbia road, then passed
in front of Aaron’s. A spanish-speaking woman, frustrated at the
condition of her neighborhood, asked why the streets were not being
cleaned. Several people explained to her in Spanish that street
cleaning does occur but without scheduled street cleaning where cars
are required to move, the street cleaning is ineffective.
The group talked about the "other" side of Columbia Road which has
scheduled street cleaning in place - Jones Hill and Stoughton Street.
Why the discrepancy? No one knew. What is necessary to put scheduled
street cleaning in place on many of the streets in Upham's corner that
really need it? No one seemed to know and this was the same response
echoed at the June SNI walk.
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The
group stopped at an empty tree pit in front of Araujo Coin Op
Laundromat where a large patch of bricks are loose or missing The
owner of the laundromat came
outside and spoke about the dangers of the brick sidewalks in disrepair
and said someone picked up a loose brick and threw it through his
storefront window.
There was also talk about the discrepancy in height between the
sidewalk and the tree pits. Oftentimes there is much as a 2 inch
difference and people spoke adamantly about the dangers of twisting
your ankle.
Some people talked about replacing the brick sidewalks. Others
simply wanted the sidewalks repaired and repaired well. For
example, this summer the City came by and filled in some of the
areas with asphalt while repairing others with brick. Why the
difference? The asphalt gives a shabby look to the otherwise
unique brick layout.
The group stopped at the driveway that leads from the
back of the alley at Agrejo Universal out to the street. Brick
driveways are particularly vulnerable to deterioration. After
months of bricks coming loose, the driveway had been repaired, though
no one knows who did it. The repair was excellent and the group
stared at it.
Someone also pointed out the extensive graffiti on the metal grate in
front of the building at the back of the alley. It has been there
for years. They then looked at the back of L&M Bargain on
Virginia Street where the weeds have grown high and are full of
trash. Same with the alley behind the businesses there.
As the group approached the businesses close to Camilo’s Liquor Store, the owner of
Jackson Barber shop came out and was ased how the
loitering was. He answered by talking about “the homeless.” “They’re all homeless.
If the police arrest them, then they are back in two hours.”
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Next attention turned to Wendover Street and the City-owned lot that
used to provide safe passage for criminal activity from Wendover to the
City parking lot. It only took a couple months, but the cut
chain-link fence has now been repaired.
And an empty lot adjacent to 30 Wendover St? That was still just
as much of a mess as it was back in June. Some walkers asked the
same question as they had asked in June: "So who do you think owns this
lot?" No one seemed to know.
The group turned the corner and headed towards Humphreys St. One resident said: “This is the spot
where we need another stop sign. Cars come racing down Humphreys
Street.” Apparently, this issue has been raised at other SNI meetings.
Now given that there already is a stop sign exactly one
block away at Humphreys & Quincefield Streets, it is hard to
believe a
car could achieve a racing speed in one block. Even so, the
determination of where stop signs should be located is the
responsibility of the
Transportation Department. Have they even been contacted?
The group walked down Harrow Street and onto Hillsboro Street around the old Maxwell
flea market. Hillsboro Street is still in complete disrepair - no
change from the June 2011 walk. At the backend of Groom Street, one resident pointed to two houses he says are engaged
in drug trafficking and a private way where, he says, cars are regularly abandoned.
Then over to Elder Street all the way up towards Columbia Road.
"Which are the houses the residents say
are creating problems?" None of the police officers seemed to
know the answer. People were trying to remember what people had
said at the June SNI walk but the memories remained faulty. No one knew
if any of the houses
were still a problem.
Down Belden Street to the Nellie Maranda Park where four
youth were seated on one of the park benches. "This is trouble,"
said Matt Feeney. One resident went over to the youth to explain
what the group was doing and welcomed them to join in to which one of
the youths remarked: "You're going to need a lot more people than that
to
make a difference.” Then Officer Fernandes went into the park to
talk with them.
Finally, back to the starting point and the walk was done.
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What came out of the walk were many of the same issues that have come
out of all such walks over the last few years – a story of neglect by
the City and by residents alike.
- Street cleaning - why is scheduled street cleaning in effect in some areas but not in others?
- Loose
bricks - the dangers of loose bricks
- one had been thrown through the window of the Laundromat on Columbia
Rd
- Sidewalk repairs - one person wanted the
brick sidewalks replaced with concrete; another wanted
the bricks retained and repaired
- Graffiti - at the back of the alley belonging to Igreja Universal (has been there for years)
- Drugs – one resident pointed out two houses where he believes drug dealing is active (no proof)
- Trash – along Virginia Street at the back of L&M Bargain – business owner does not take care of his property
- Abandoned cars - one resident pointed to an area that he says is a frequent site for abandoned cars (no proof)
- Streets in need of repair
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These walks tend to draw people. It's
fun! It "feels" like the walk is accomplishing
something and certainly, it's a lot more fun than sitting in
meetings. But are we really accomplishing anything? Yes, a
little.
However, Upham's Corner
still looks unkempt, bedraggled, run-down, in disrepair and not a place
you would want to live??
For a complete list of all infrastructure reporting in UC News, view the article "Sleep Walking your Way through Upham's Corner."
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Group poses in parking lot at Belden Terrace
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The SNI walk started out heading to Columbia Rd and then over to Dudley
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Bricks loose and missing on the side of the tree pit on Columbia Rd.
Laundromat owner say the brick used to smash his window
came from this ever-widening section of decrepit sidewalk |
Brick driveway recently repaired
at Igreja Universal on Dudley St
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Owner of L&M Bargain refuses to take care of the weeds
on Virginia St at the back of his store
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Alley strewn with litter in the back of L&M Bargain
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Reputed drug house, owned by Bank of America where
"everyone" has been trying to get the tenants out for months.
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Poor condition of Hillsboro St
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Poor condition of Humphreys Street
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Litter, trash and streets not cleaned everywhere!
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Looks like what was left from
a smashed car window on Humphreys St
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