UPDATE: Highland Estates developer withdraws SPUD change request
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
With the end of summer, football and back to school all within reach, I wanted to let you know that the University Hills Civic Association steering committee and board have been hard at work.
I was contacted by a prospective developer regarding nine acres of land that is currently for sale within University Hills. He was interested to know the neighborhood's comments regarding development of that site.
Many of you took the opportunity to comment; and I thank you for it. Most of the comments fell into several categories. Zoning, access, density, and drainage concerns. I passed these concerns back to the developer and he was grateful for them. It is important to remember that anyone could buy this site and develop it in any way they see fit provided they abide by and do not change the A-1 Zoning. It was a courtesy that the Association was approached; and so I replied in a cordial manner but set out the neighborhood concerns clearly. I have not heard anything more from that gentleman.
In a related manner, I was also contacted by another prospective developer for the site of Highland Estates, specifically the five lots that front Highland Road in front of the new development adjacent to our subdivision. They have plans to place four duplex houses on four of five lots and sought our input. This would require a rezoning from the current A-1. Once again, many of you viewed the plans and sent comments back via this excellent web site. I compiled those comments and forwarded this Association's response back to the developing party.
As well, we have coordinated our response with that of the College Town Civic Association and made our position clearly known to Councilman Skyring. I encourage you to read the actual correspondence and the councilman's subsequent position. With elections in November for District 12, I encourage all of us to challenge the candidates on issues like the development of the Highland corridor.
This is the time of the year when we get a new batch of LSU students amongst us. Take the time to say a few nice words of introduction and you might find that you have a terrific neighbor for the year.
I remind you that zoning laws state that only two unrelated or three related persons may rent and reside in a single-family home. If you believe that this is being ignored on a constant basis, please discuss it with the tenants and let them know that this Association enforces the zoning regulations. If you do not get any satisfaction from the tenants, then the next step is to inform the owners of the violation and again let them know that the Association enforces the zoning regulations. We have worked effectively with the Parish Attorney in the past year and with a coordinated effort can do so again to ensure that we maintain the type of neighborhood that we all value.
Chris Liddy
President
PS: Make universityhills70808.net your home page. That way you can follow our progress and keep up-to-date about your civic association and your community.
Editor's note: Sometimes, because of space and clutter considerations, the navigation on a Web site can be slightly cryptic. What does How To mean? What are Resources? Actually, they can mean what you want them to mean. If you know how to do something that others in the community can benefit from, then let us know and we'll put it on the site. Have a product or service that your company sells? Then that can be a resource. We encourage Civic Association members to patronize other members' places of business.
Are you a teenager who is looking for lawn mowing work or babysitting? Let us know and we'll post that on the site. Want to volunteer to help elderly neighbors? We can facilitate your finding neighbors in need. Know a good handyman? Recommend him to the community.
That's what this site is for. You.
If you're really stumped about what a button means, hold your mouse over the button to see a further description of the contents of the page.
And, if we need other buttons, that's OK. Buttons are cheap.
Hurricane Preparedness Links
- FEMA Hurricane Preparedness
- Louisiana Emergency Preparedness (getagameplan.org)
- Hurricane preparedness (information from the Baton Rouge Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness)
- National Hurricane Center
Tropical storm and hurricane advisories. The site also includes the Tropical Weather Outlook, Tropical Discussion and satellite images - The Weather Underground — Tropical Weather
Historical tropical storm tracks, forecast models, blogs and discussions (especially Dr. Jeff Masters' tropical blog). - More weather links in Resources
See Calendar for details and candidates.
Genevieve Collins, longtime University Hills resident, dies
We are saddened to report that Genevieve Cox Collins, who lived in the same house on Delgado Drive from 1937 until early 2008, died on August 18, 2008, at North Oaks Medical Center, Hammond.
Genevieve was born in Lecompte, LA, to Claude and Bessie Cox. She came to Baton Rouge to study at the LSU School of Music where she earned her master's degree in organ. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega and served as president two years.
Her late husband, Frank Collins, Jr., was her major professor at LSU and head of the organ department and first full professor in the music department. With her characteristic humor, she often joked, "I married him to get A's."
Following their marriage, the couple traveled to Paris where Frank studied under the leading organist in the world, Marcel Dupré, and she studied under the blind organist at Notre Dame Cathedral, Louis Viérne. They returned to Baton Rouge where Genevieve served as organist and choir master at Trinity Episcopal Church for 40 years and at Temple B'nai Israel for 50 years. She was an active member of the American Guild of Organists, serving as Dean several times, and of the Philharmonic Club.
Her small house on Delgado Drive was a well known haven for parties. "Every football game, there are people here for supper," she said, "and Christmas Eve we always have gumbo."
Mrs. Collins had lived in that house since 1937. She explained that, when she and her husband moved into the subdivision, there were only two houses on Delgado Drive. The couple had the option of buying the house across the street (gravel at the time). They opted for the house on the southern side because, in the summer, the prevailing breeze blew dust from the street toward the house on the northern side. In 1937, there was no home air-conditioning; and windows were open all day long.
She and her late husband designed the Casavant organ, made in Quebec, for Trinity Episcopal Church and bought a smaller organ for the church, where she played for many years.
Born July 12, 1912, she was 96. She is survived by her son, Jimmy Collins, and his wife, Helen; and two nieces, Mary Lee McCoy, of Belen, NM, and Barbara Gordon, of Greenville, GA.
A Tale of Two Developments
Two developers are planning new construction projects in or near University Hills.
See the News section for details.
To see comments and questions already received, see Your Thoughts.
As of July 18, we have collected dues from 102 families of the approximately 200 families in the entire subdivision. For details, click here.
Are you current with your dues? To find out, contact treasurer@universityhills70808.net.
Articles of Incorporation signed
The Articles of Incorporation for the civic association was signed by the seven incorporators on May 5.
Pictured above are the incorporators who will also serve as the initial board of directors: (seated, from left to right) Sharon Collier, treasurer; Michelle Spielman, vice-president; Chris Liddy, president; and (standing, from left to right) Louis Castaing; George Daniels, secretary; Bob Benedict; Erick Swenson.
The first act of the board was to approve the bylaws by a unanimous vote.
Text of the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws are available here.
Gone Pecan
Another pecan tree in the median has gone to its reward. And things on the median are looking a little rough right now. But there's hope. Click here.
Baton Rouge Connect-CTY
Now you can sign up to receive emergency notifications from the city-parish. Learn more and sign up click here.
Video from the Association's Halloween Part, October 27, hosted by Philip and Laura has moved to the newly revised Photo and Video page.