Culver

Career Day 2012

by

Wednesday was Career Day at Culver Middle School and I agreed to speak again this year.  I think this is the third year that I have done this and I’m going to recycle my stolen Batman cartoon… just because I really like it!  Ha!  I didn’t have Batman to compete with this year, but Jeff Kenney was discussing the glamorous life of a journalist, so I’m guessing I was shown up.  (Last year it was the police dog handler that I had to compete with.  I’m sure he would have given Jeff a better run for his money!)

I spoke about my degree in Landscape Architecture and my current career in construction.  I discussed the importance of math, verbal & written communication and art in my career.  I discussed the changing community standards and how Landscape Architects influence them.  I discussed why Landscape Architecture is a licensed profession and what that requires.  I also took them through a rough site development plan, so they got a taste of how all those things come together.  I tried to relate that to the various maps in the room since I was presenting in the Geography room.

It’s hard to find time for these things, particularly in the current business climate, but that doesn’t mean they’re not important.  I know that I didn’t know what a Landscape Architect was until I went to college.  (Somehow I don’t think Rob Schneider’s show “Rob” is helping our cause any either, when he starts to describe his job as a Landscape Architect to his new mother in law and she cuts him off with, “Yeah, I get it.  My daughter married a gardener.”)  Hopefully my talk planted a seed in some of their minds that will help them make a decision for or against pursuing a similar career. 

As usual there was a mix of interest in the room ranging from rapt attention to dozing.  I gave the same (similar?) presentation to five groups and the teacher monitoring the class said it was interesting to see where I veered off from the previous presentation.  After doing this the first time I figured out that having at least a rough outline was important since after three or four it gets hard to tell what I’ve said to what group.

All and all it was a good experience.  I would recommend considering accepting if you’re asked to speak.

Oh, and by the way, it’s National Landscape Architecture Month!  I’m sure you knew that, but if you didn’t, I’ve fulfilled an obligation to the profession as well.

Culver Garden Court Ribbon Cutting

by

Yesterday was the Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Culver Garden Court.  I want to thank all of the Culver people that made this project possible that turned out for the event.  The Culver Town Council was represented by Ed Pinder and Bill Githens.  (Ralph Winters, a former Town Council member who was instrumental in getting this project approved, was there as well.)  The Plan Commission was represented by Ralph Winters.  The Culver Redevelopment Commission was represented by Jerry Ney.  Pete Trone also came.  (Pete was instrumental in helping get the needed variances while he was on the Culver BZA.)  The Culver Chamber of Commerce was represented by Sue McInturf, Tony Sellers and Greg Fassett.

Reverend Liechty, President of Garden Court, Inc.,  was the keynote speaker.  He made a nice speech introducing the attending dignitaries and giving some history regarding the organization.  He allowed me to speak and I explained how we had worked to make this project happen for over 10 years and through four Town Managers.  We both thanked Wade and Claudia McGee for making the property available.  I also congratulated the various Town Boards and Commissions for taking the additional steps to annex the surrounding 80 acres, change its zoning and start water and sewer lines to open the area to additional affordable housing.

Reverend Liechty will be stepping down as President of Garden Court and retiring from the board when they elect officers this coming November, so after 7 Garden Court projects, Culver Garden Court will be the last project where we work with him.  I took the chance to publicly thank him for the opportunity to work with him and thanked him for his guidance and friendship through the years.

All in all it was a good day.  The sun was shining.  There was a good turn out.  I heard nothing but good comments about the project.

Culver Redevelopment Commission

by

The Culver Redevelopment Commission (CRC) met for their first 2012 meeting on Wednesday, March 21st.  There are two returning members, Grant Munroe and Jerry Ney.  There are three new members, Brandon Cooper, Rick Tompos and Ralph Winters.  (Cooper was absent.)  They reorganized with Munroe as Chair, Winters as Vice-Chair and Tompos as Secretary.

Members brought two issues before the commission as projects to consider for the year:

  1. Munroe suggested that the group continue their consideration of facade improvement grants as were discussed extensively last year.  I suggested that they approach Trent Bennett regarding participating in a Task Force or Sub Committee in order to complete this project since he was so heavily involved in it the previous year.  They thought that was appropriate and planned to contact him.  They are going to consider this at their next meeting when they have a better handle on financing.
  2. Winters suggested that the group consider funding or helping to fund a sidewalk project which would extend the sidewalk along the west side of Lake Shore Drive from where it stops up to the intersection with S.R. 10 and then west along S.R. 1o to the Family Dollar store.  He  suggested this due to the number of Culver Academies students that walk this route to the Park ‘N Shop and to the Family Dollar.  Obstacles concerning this were discussed including that part of the area was not in the TIF District and part of the area would be on INDOT Right-of-Way.  They are going to consider this at their next meeting as well.

I presented a proposal that they consider participating in funding of a new Culver Comprehensive Plan.  (See 20/20 Vision for Culver)  They agreed that this would be a good project as it did impact the TIF District, but they felt it would be appropriate to partially fund it rather than be the sole source of funding.  I explained that this suggestion originated with Kathy Clark, a former chair of the CRC.  I also explained that I have vetted the idea with Jennifer Laurent, Marshall County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) Executive Director, and she had indicated that it was a common use of Redevelopment funds and outlined some steps for them to take.   They are going to consider this at their next meeting as well.

They plan to have updated financials for their next meeting so that the new members can familarize themselves with the funding and available funds.  They’re behind this year since this was their first meeting, but it sounds like they intend to hit the ground running.  Their next meeting will be April 18th at 5:30pm.  They are changing their meeting dates to the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the new 5:30pm time.