The meeting took place at Bleu Evolution, 808 West 187th Street., and got under way at about 7:25.m. In attendance were the following individuals: Julia Attaway, Mike Augenblick, Bob Brophy, Caroline Brown, Janice K. Bryant, Marcella Calabi, Gail Chern-Thompson, Anthony Fountain, Jane Healey, Deborah Katznelson, Mary Kim, Gwen Kingsberry, Erica Lindenstraus, Doreen Mangan, William J. McBurney, Jr., Tina Molinari, Chigurupati Murali, Rosa Naparstek, Lilliam Perez, Brenda Ramirez-Paulino, Elizabeth Lorris Ritter, Helen Sokolsky, Simone Yen Song, and Henry Stern
The following member buildings had residents present: 66 Overlook Terrace Corp., 120 Bennett Owners Corporation, 255 Cabrini Condominium, 350 Cabrini Owners Corporation, 360 Cabrini Owners Corporation, 720 West 173rd Street Owners Corp., 720-730 Fort Washington Avenue Owners Corp., Cabrini Terrace Owners Corp., Castle Village Owners Corporation, Chittenden House Inc., Hudson View Gardens, Overlook Towers Corp., and Pinehurst Owners Corp. The following Community Associate Members (CAMs) and other neighborhood groups were represented: Beth Am, The People's Temple, Friends of Bennett Park, Friends of Fort Tryon Park, Hudson Cliffs Theatre Arts Program, Quality of Life Committee, Simone Song Properties, Century 21 William B. May, and YM/YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwood. The following elected officials had a representative present:  Councilman Robert Jackson, Senator Eric Schneiderman.


HHOC business: 

• The Draft Summary of the April meeting was accepted with a change to the attendance list.

• Welcome to new member of the coalition, 720 West 173rd Street.

• Concern was expressed about a flier advertising a real-estate event posted and mailed around the neighborhood by two agents of Prudential Douglas Elliman that used the phrase "Hudson Heights Home Owners" in a font similar to HHOC’s letterhead. Marcella agreed to send them a letter noting that there was confusion about whether this event was sponsored by us and requesting them to avoid such confusion in the future.

• HHOC was asked, and agreed, to act as a collection point for donations to support dedicating a bench in the children’s garden at Bennett Park in memory of Max Kane.

• HHOC will act in a similar capacity as fiscal intermediary on behalf of Councilmember Robert Jackson. This is consistent with our 501(c)(3) status and application.

 
YM/YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwood, represented by Deborah Katznelson, made a presentation about its multiple and varied offerings and asked HHOC’s help in getting the word out. Their offerings include cultural and athletic activities and services for the whole community as well as special-identification groups such as children, older kids, émigrés, low-income, and seniors. Even after years in the neighborhood, many HHOC attendees were surprised at the wealth and range of programs, and there was much brainstorming about ways to increase community awareness about them. Call 212-569-6200 or see www.ywahhts.org
 
 Co-op Roundtable topics:

• House rules concerning pets

• Flip taxes

• Networking about how to find services such as contractors

Announcements concerning events that are past, as of this posting:

• Uptown Arts Stroll with Music Mile (June 11th - 19th)

• FYI Benefit (May 25th)

• Free tennis classes sponsored by Senator Schneiderman’s office

Events still ahead and items of interest to the neighborhood:

• Free Mediation Services available at the Washington Heights-Inwood Coalition, call 212-781-7145 for help with disputes such as neighbor/landlord; Consumer/Merchant; Family, Co-worker and other conflicts.

• Danza Washington Heights event on 9/17 at Highbridge

• Medieval Festival at Ft. Tryon Park is scheduled for 10/2 and needs volunteers, call the Washington Heights Inwood Development Corp at 212-795-1600 to volunteer. HHOC agreed to support this event with $300 like last year.

Pedestrian safety at Margaret Corbin Circle was discussed, with much brainstorming about whether such measures as lights, freshly painted crosswalks, hedges around the walkways, or more aggressive signage (aimed at drivers, pedestrians, or both) might alleviate the risks of pedestrians crossing straight across the circle. It was generally agreed that walkers see this area as a sort of pedestrian mall and think of themselves as already more or less in the Park when they get there. Does that make it the drivers’ responsibility to cede place? Next steps might be to discuss this with the Community Board and/or Parks Department.

The Castle Village Wall Collapse was discussed briefly, mostly to reassure anyone who was not aware that (1) the buildings are anchored in bedrock (2) the City engineers have been aggressively inspecting other wall structures in this and other neighborhoods since the fall and (3) any areas of concern can be reported to 311. More information will come out after the (then-upcoming) residents’ meeting planned at Castle Village.

Next meeting:  Monday June 20, 7:15 p.m., Hudson View Gardens Boardroom