§ September 1st, 2010 § Filed under Community, Meetings, Safety Comments Off
The Mandell Place Civic Association will hold a general meeting Monday September 13th at 7:00p. The meeting will be held at the Bering Church Room 108-A. Officer Wayne Pate from the Montrose HPD storefront will be on hand to discuss security in our neighborhood. Everyone is encouraged to attend in a unified effort to keep crime out of Mandell Place.
The second half of the meeting, expected to last an hour, will include a discussion of our existing deed restrictions and proposed additions to preserve the residential integrity of our neighborhood. The board will present considerations for side setbacks, rear setbacks, height restrictions, front yard fence standards, number of units per lot and making the minimum lot size permanent. Your ideas and input and encouraged in an effort to maintain the charm of our neighborhood.
The July HPD PIP meeting for the central division, including Mandell Place, was held July 28th. Captain Holloway provided crime stats comparing January through June 2009 to 2010. Crime rates have remained basically unchanged with the exception of Burglary Motor Vehicle (BMV). BMV involves illegal entry into a car with a resulting theft. BMV rates are up about 30% this year. Along with Capt. Holloway, Sergeant Engles, HPD Burglary and Theft Division supervisor, provided information regarding investigations and prevention.
Both men stressed the importance of an involved neighborhood. Observant neighbors who contact the police (713-884-3131 non-emergency or 911 emergency) provide the best defense. The majority of burglary and theft in residential neighborhoods occurs during the daytime hours when people are at work. If you see or hear anything unusual, please contact HPD through the non-emergency dispatch number. Tips from neighbors, for example, descriptions of suspicious individuals or license plate numbers, often provide the missing link to catch and convict criminals.
Sergeant Engles encouraged everyone to create a detailed list of expensive items including model and serial numbers. Serial numbers are critical. If you happen to be the unfortunate victim of crime, the more detail and description of stolen property provided greatly increases the likelihood of your property being returned and the conviction of the thief. Walk your dogs, walk in the neighborhood and work in your yards. Neighbors outside during daylight hours are a great deterrent for opportunistic criminals. If thieves know neighbors are watching, they will take their troubles elsewhere.
We have the power to keep our neighborhood safe. Never leave ANY personal items visible in your car. It only takes a few seconds to break a window and grab your belongings. Keep an eye on your house and the neighborhood. HPD wants you to call the non-emergency dispatch phone number 713-884-3131 if you hear or see anything suspicious. Let’s make this a safe summer!
The owner of Kipling Street Academy has purchased the lot at the southeast corner of Kipling and Mulberry and plans to tear down the apartment complex there to expand her daycare facility that is located next door. On the one hand, this is great news because the apartment complex was causing a lot of problems for Mandell Place residents. On the other hand, the lot will be re-platted from residential to commercial property, eroding the residential feel of the neighborhood a little bit more. The owner is currently in the process of re-platting the property in order to combine it with 1425 Kipling to form one large commercial property. Since the previous property owner opted out of WAMM’s (West Alabama Montrose Mulberry Civic Association) recent deed restrictions, there is nothing preventing the approval of the re-plat. WAMM, which is directly to the east of Mandell Place, voted last night to write a letter to the owner supporting this change. The hearing with the Planning Commission will be held at the City Hall Annex on January 21, 2010. Attendance is open to the public.