[Community_garden] inquiry

Wed Jan 9 15:09:44 EST 2008

Dear everyone,
I received this inquiry and was sure that this would be the right place to zap it to...would anyone who has the time and energy kindly give this lady some answers?
Please note to send your answers to esisti at Pennhort.org, not to my address. If you just reply to the listserv, then please also copy her on the message as she is not on our listserv. Yet.
k

Good Afternoon, 

I have been asked by members of our Philadelphia Green staff to research models of partnerships between community gardens and municipal governments in U.S. cities. They suggested that I contact you.  I wonder if you could guide me in this research by answering some of my questions.

What community gardens have strong partnerships with their municipal governments?  In which cities are they?

What are the conditions of these partnerships (what are the gardeners required to do/what is the government required to do)?

Which government agency in each city does the work the government is required to do in these partnerships?

Who owns the land that is used in each of these gardens? How is ownership determined?  Is there a land trust?

How is liability insurance handled in these partnerships?

Does the city government offer funding or grants to cover infrastructure or start-up costs in these community gardens?

Are there any other non-profit agencies similar to Philadelphia Green or the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society who have established successful partnerships with their city governments?

I would appreciate any feedback you could give me about these questions, or any other information you feel is important on this topic.

Thank you in advance for your help and your time,Elena

Elena Sisti
Information Services Librarian
The McLean Library
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
100 N. 20th Street
Philadelphia PA 19103
215-988-8782
www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org

Visit the Philadelphia Flower Show, Jazz It Up, March 2 - 9, 2008.
www.theflowershow.com
 <html><DIV>Kristin Faurest </DIV>Tulipan utca 16&nbsp;<DIV></DIV>1022 Budapest, Hungary <DIV></DIV>tel. 36 1 316 1048 <DIV></DIV>mobile 36 20 9582 545 <DIV></DIV><FONT size=2><P>"I hope the United States of America is not so rich that she can</P><P>afford to let these wildernesses pass by, or so poor that she</P><P>cannot afford to keep them."</P><P>--Margaret "Mardy" Murie, 1902-2003</P></FONT></html>> From: community_garden-request at list.communitygarden.org> Subject: Community_garden Digest, Vol 337, Issue 1> To: community_garden at list.communitygarden.org> Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 12:01:56 -0500> > Send Community_garden mailing list submissions to> community_garden at list.communitygarden.org> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit> http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to> community_garden-request at list.communitygarden.org> > You can reach the person managing the list at> community_garden-owner at list.communitygarden.org> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific> than "Re: Contents of Community_garden digest..."> > > Today's Topics:> > 1. Community Garden: HACC Board Meeting 12/18/07 audio tape and> index available (Alliums)> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------> > Message: 1> Date: Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:20:24 -0500> From: "Alliums" <garlicgrower at green-logic.com>> Subject: [Community_garden] Community Garden: HACC Board Meeting> 12/18/07 audio tape and index available> To: <community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>> Message-ID: <EF403E59612546C99F9A7ACA97ACB253 at GreenLogic>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"> > Hi, Folks!> > > > You may remember that the Housing Authority of Chester County (HACC) Board> Meeting on 12/18/07 at King Terrace was videotaped and also audiotaped both> by garden supporters and HACC personnel. Unfortunately, the videotape has> experienced severe technical difficulties; however, our audio tape, along> with an index of times and persons speaking is available for download here:> > > > Description: HACC Board Meeting 12/18/07 Index to Audio File (3 page pdf)> The direct download link is: http://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/pzauov> > > > Description: HACC Board Meeting 12/18/07 audio file (35 mg .wav file - 76> minutes listening time)> The direct download link is: http://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/d2wmhn> > > > This is rented server space at a reputable company - you'll have to download> the files to your computer, then read/listen to them once they are on your> hard drive, but there should not be any concerns about viruses or anything> else that will harm your computer.> > > > You'll probably want to print out the Index and then follow along as you> listen to the audio file. The baby crying in the background is Katie Jayne> Mannon whose family regularly visits the community garden and labyrinth.> There were about 75 people at the meeting - over 60 of them were community> garden/labyrinth supporters, including two babies and five children under> the age of 10.> > > > We are extremely grateful to everyone who took time out of their day to come> to King Terrace on 12/18/07 and speak on behalf of the community garden and> labyrinth. While everyone on the tape is worth listening to, I would> suggest that the "highlights" are as follows:> > > > Rev. Linda Gruber, Pastor, St. John's United Church of Christ (Start Time:> 13:03)> > Presents and explains the Consistory Proposal on why the lease for St John's> United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden and Labyrinth should be> extended past September 1, 2009.> > (A stellar example of why the art of preaching is so highly esteemed within> the United Church of Christ.)> > > > Bobby Dean, 78, Phoenixville North Side homeowner and eldest community> gardener (Start Time: 33:23)> > Dean describes his experiences and observations as a veteran, a gardener and> the primary donor of fresh produce to Phoenixville residents in need.> > > > Board Chair, Phoenixville Area Community Services (PACS) (Start Time: 46:20)> > Describes how PACS depends on the community garden's produce as cuts to food> banks continue.> > (Although I couldn't catch this gentleman's name, he eloquently expresses> the pain of those who toil in hunger relief. Unfortunately, feeding the> hungry is not a high priority in this society and there is always someone> taking another whack at what programs are in place and denying the expansion> or creation of new ones, as the recent debates on the Farm Bill poignantly> illustrated.)> > > > If you live in the 157th District for the PA House of Representatives (now> filled by Carole Rubley, who will not be running for re-election), you will> want to listen to the portions of tape featuring John Bravacos, Region 3> Director of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (Start> Time: 57:02 to end - roughly the last 25 minutes of tape). > > > > According to the 12/22/23/07 Phoenix article "Candidates Queuing up to> Replace Rubley," Bravacos has expressed interest in the seat and "believes> that he could bring a number of good things to the district. He said he has> a close familiarity with land use issues facing the district and could work> on legislation that will affect the power of municipalities to control> development. He also says that he knows many players in Harrisburg and> could achieve 'political integration' quickly, which would allow him, for> example, to influence, where PennDOT money goes. This, he said, is> especially important given the infrastructure issues Paoli faces."> > > > Consider listening to Bravacos on the tape as part of your decision as to> whether or not you would like Bravacos as your State Representative in> Harrisburg. The Phoenixville Republican Committee meets on January 20, then> the Chester County Republican Committee meets on January 24 to endorse a> candidate for the 157th District - Republican committee members and Council> persons will want to hear from you before those dates - whether or not you> are a Republican, because in the General Election, all that matters is: > > > > 1. Who can raise $100,000 to finance the campaign? and> > > > 2. Who can get the most votes in the General Election in November?> > > > To my knowledge, no one else who is considering a run for the 157th District> seat was at the 12/18/07 Board Meeting. If that information is incorrect,> just let me know.> > > > The last 25 minutes of the tape discuss the HUD timeline and funding steam.> > > > Timelines: Bravacos states on the tape that the HUD funds must be obligated> by November 2008 or they will no longer be available. The only 2008 dates> listed in the HUD documentation I received through FOIA are September, 12,> 2008 to spend $391,222 and July 17, 2008 to obligate $365,727. HUD> documentation on the repeatedly stated November 2008 date would be helpful> for all interested parties.> > > > Funding Stream: According to the HUD documentation I received through> FOIA, the Fairview Court (Fairview Expansion to 26 units) Proposal is being> funded through HUD Replacement Housing Factor (RHF) Program Grants. > > > > Several of my colleagues with the American Community Gardening Association> (who work in major cities and have regular interaction with their city> Housing Authorities) disagree with the implications on tape that this> funding stream is solely for new housing. While brand-new housing is an> accepted use for this funding stream, their primary purpose is to replace> existing public housing units that are poor or severely deteriorated> condition.> > > > According to the Phoenixville Borough Council and the Phoenixville Fire> Companies, the public housing within Phoenixville Borough in the most> deteriorated condition is King Terrace. At the December Phoenixville> Council Meeting, council members briefly discussed the Fire Chief's concerns> about King Terrace, agreed with them, then Tish Jones (D-East Ward) made a> motion, unanimously passed, to direct the Borough Manager to request HACC's> presence before Council so that the Fire Companies' and the Council's> concerns about both Fairview and King Terrace could be addressed in detail.> > > > According to HACC and Chester County Department of Community Development> (DCD) documentation provided at various State Senator Andrew Dinniman events> and on their websites, the need for public housing for the elderly and> families is a wash - both are badly needed, but no one in the County appears> to have placed one need over the other. > > > > At the 5/30/07 meeting with the church, Don Coppedge, HACC Board Chair,> spoke at length on his "excellent" relationship with PPG and how easily he> could procure land from them for the asking. While the Steel Property is> too contaminated for agricultural use, with standard clay soil caps, two> successful senior living complexes have already been built there. PPG,> which is in the process of divesting, owns the project for a third senior> apartment complex - which already has beginning approvals from the> Phoenixville Planning Commission. (Being PPG, this project was stalled in> the Zoning Board for issues that can easily be resolved with an influx of> cash, a few design tweaks and a resolve to see the project to completion.)> > > > On the tape, (Start Time: 1:02:04) Tonya Mitchell-Weston, Executive> Director, Housing Authority of Chester County states that "There is no> development plan" and "We are starting from Day One." Also on the tape,> (Start Time: 1:02:41) Bravacos outlines all the activity that must be> completed for the Fairview Court project so the funds can be obligated by> November 2008 and repeats throughout the tape that he wants Phoenixville to> receive this HUD money.> > > > Since HUD RHF funds are primarily for replacement housing, why not make the> Borough and the Fire Companies happy by replacing King Terrace with new> elderly public housing on the Steel Property where elderly housing is> already approved and surveyed to go anyway? PPG can't complete the project,> but its approval status gives HACC the head start it needs to finish all of> its paperwork and obligate its funds by November 2008 - and according to> HACC and DCD's own documentation, elderly public housing is needed just as> badly as public housing for families. Most importantly, the project could> actually be completed by the oft-stated HUD obligation deadline.> > > > After the elderly are moved into the new senior apartment complex, HACC is> then eligible for another round of RHF funding to demolish King Terrace and> build family townhouses (which would fit with the current architecture on> High Street) on the property which, with its proximity to downtown> Phoenixville and Andre Thornton Park across the street, is a premier> location for families. Ultimately, the County gets more public housing for> those who need it most and the Borough has its concerns heard and answered. > > > > Bravacos is right that this HUD money is an opportunity. However, blindly> blundering through 2008 benefits almost no one. With creativity, an eye to> what the HUD funding stream actually requires and as George Martynick of the> Phoenixville Planning Commission (Start Time: 54:23) pleaded for "a sense of> cooperation" . . . "a sense of civility - which sometimes, isn't quite> there" and "open and honest dialog," this truly can be a win-win situation> for both HACC and everyone who lives in Phoenixville.> > > > I'm attending the Farm Show on Wednesday (1/9) - otherwise, I welcome> everyone's thoughts, calls and e-mails on this subject. > > > > Dorene Pasekoff, Coordinator> > St. John's United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden and Labyrinth> > > > A mission of > > St. John's United Church of Christ, 315 Gay Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -------------- next part --------------> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...> URL: http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20080108/5a87db2a/attachment.html > > > ------------------------------> > _______________________________________________> The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org> > To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden at list.communitygarden.org> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org> > End of Community_garden Digest, Vol 337, Issue 1> ************************************************
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