New Garden on Franklin, Between Sterling Park

Overheard the Crow Hill people talking aobut that empty lot; the thought is that whether the owner is aware of the cleanup or not, what it looks like now is better than what it used to look like, and what investment is made into the property 'community wise' is done with the awareness that this dream might soon end. That being said, we ought not discourage our own investment into making the lot look better than it does based on the fact that our labors will be dashed aside, in the name of progress. For if we do this, then we are just as culpable in the negligence and urban blight that we all painfully bear witness to.
One of the reasons the neighborhood looks unkempt is because property owners are often absent and indifferent to their building's upkeep, so long as the rent comes in. And that's why the lot looked as it did. This is OUR neighborhood, and the more we invest in it, the closer the bond between it and us. I heard a brother say the other day that cleaning up in front of his building gave him a sense of 'propriety'; this point should be well taken here.

I got the goods from someone regarding the empty lot. Two Crowhill folk spent Monday and Tuesday tilling half the lot and uprooting the new weed growth. As they were doing that they discovered a guy on Sterling Place who was in the process of taking out some 6-foot hedges in the front of his home. He gladly donated them to their efforts, as his plan was to chop them up and call 311 for disposal. Those hedges are now planted on one side at mid point of the lot, blocking a fence.

At the base of the hedges they planted daffodill bulbs donated by another green-thumber on Sterling Place. Opposite the hedges they planted a small maple tree also donated by the same guy who brought the hedges. The broad plan is to get grass seed and plant that on half the lot. Also a few benchs will likely go underneath the mulberry tree near the front. There is apparently a need to fill some holes at the fence perimeter. MHA has personally seen fat rats scurrying in and out of them.

As they were working, two men in their mid-fifties approached and asked what was to become of it. They told them of Crow Hill's best intentions. One of the men said that he used to be the owner of the lot, but he sold it to a Pakistani/Indian guy about 10-15 years ago, and that this guy had plans to build a 15 - 20 unit building, but then the guy just disappeared. What got me is that this lot has been empty for sometime and there is obvious proof that the intention to make it a community space once existed, because there is a mural on one of the walls. If this space was used consistently for at least ten years (I think) then provided that the owner was aware of such use at its inception there is a likelihood that it could be legitimately be considered public space right now. Who knows, maybe the owner is under the impression that the land has been in use consistently, and is resigned to do nothing but leave it to community use.

It looks quite nice in there. and one can imagine what value to the space grass would bring. I wonder what's the cost of those swaths of carpet grass sold at Home depot? It would be nice if this place could look decent by the fall. Who knows, maybe it could be a prospective auxiliary park, or, for the dog lovers in the community, a possible dog run, or both? Maybe those whose interests would be met if it were a dog run could contribute some funds for its upkeep?

A slight challenge is access to water. An ingenious neighbor had a grand idea. Rainwater. After the hedges were planted they wondered where they would get water from. There is a guy who lives behind the lot who goes by the name of 'Big Tud', or 'Mr. Panama'. Mr. Panama is Panamanian. There is a large Panamanian contingency in Crow Hill, if you haven't noticed (Hangout at Kelso's restaurant on Franklin and see for yourself). He smokes big cigars and has a huge green thumb. He has gardens behind two buildings that are in plain view from the back of the lot on Franklin Avenue. He has a plastic garbage container he keeps about a foot away from the building. As rain falls and pools on the top of the building it falls into the purposely placed plastic garbage can. He gave the Crow Hill folks access and they passed water over the fence to the hedges.

It would be really cool if this lot could look presentable for the Kids Day event to be held on July 24th. the street between Sterling Place and Park Place will be empty and maybe the space could be used for the benefit of that event.

That's already been done photogirl.

Apparently whynot_31 dropped off the benches. I saw them as I walked by the empty lot, which is really coming together.