Thread by @WedgeLIVE

Big question right now is whether wedge live can walk to Kenwood fast enough to see the Lowry Hill neighborhood association spend $225k in housing money on fountain.

I'm here. I walked across a lake to get here.

Ballots are now being distributed to residents for this community vote.

Someone tried to give me a ballot, not realizing I'm here from Lowry Hill East. I turned it down.

I have too much respect for neighborhood level democracy.

So far, it looks like we have about 8 residents here (not including board members) to decide whether to spend a total of $300k on the Seven Pools Fountain at Thomas Lowry Park. $225k of that money was formerly allocated to affordable housing.

Older lady says the only reason she's here is because this is less painful than Trump's state of the union.

Guy running this meeting wants to run through the normal agenda before doing the vote. Settle in!

Board member asking if anyone else is getting threatening letters about shoveling sidewalks. She uses a snow shoveling service. (Not sure if she means from the city or from vigilantes. Probably from the city.)

Someone announces council member Lisa Goodman will not be coming.

Board chair wants to highlight that next month they will be proposing $100k for affordable housing. Says this is similar to something the org did previously, but doesn't explicitly say that the 225k they're moving to the fountain tonight used to be devoted to affordable housing.

Board chair: Lowry Hill towards the end of priority list for park funds. Fountain is at the end of its life. Funding would be 5-10 years away. Asks question: is it appropriate to allocate 300k to the fountain?

This $300k wouldn't cover full cost. They still need combination of funding from city, fundraising, and "other neighborhood associations who benefit from having that park near them."

$600k mentioned as the full cost of the fountain. Resident asks what a no vote means. Answer: one option is to put that money back into affordable housing.

Board member says a large portion of their NRP funds have already gone to the park and they should continue investing in the park. Describes Thomas Lowry Park as something that used to be a "problem" for the neighborhood.

Another board member says they're unlikely to ever get this substantial amount of money again. Raises spectre of the city taking the money away from them if they don't spend it.

About 15 residents here now.

Resident asks why they're at the bottom of the list. Answer: "equity matrix."

Speaking of the park, resident says "It's a treasure for the whole city as far as I'm concerned."

Guy asks about letting kids into the fountain. That's a liability concern for the park board. no lifeguards. (Nobody enforces it so feel free to let your kids wade in that death trap.)

Guy says the park was going to be a hotel back in the early days of the 19th century. Residents wanted to keep it from becoming "another 510 Groveland." (I can't vouch for the credibility of this neighborhood historian)

Wow. "If you let the park look like a third world park you're gonna get a third world price for your property."

There's really not an ounce of skepticism in this room for funding the fountain, but people keep talking.

Board member says density of the neighborhood is greatest around the park. "This is a wonderful way to give back to those residents."

If anyone's curious, there's a project that would be built in Lowry Hill, for young people at risk of homelessness. Still needs funding.
perishousing.org

27 yes and 2 no votes.

And now, news from a guy who's "on a mission to cut down buckthorn trees... All by hand, I might add."

They had a debate about how to pronounce Jono Cowgill. What do you think?

Thanks for tuning in. Help fund more fountain reporting.
patreon.com/wedgelive