Citizen alert: Attend the Rezoning Hearing to save the green space around the old Cloverdale School (corner of Fairview and Boultier) on Thursday, October 26 at 5 pm in room 142 of City Hall. Your input is needed to let the city know we would rather save our magnificent trees and green space than have more parking lots, stores and housing on the property!
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Huntingdon to sell its green space and trees in Old Cloverdale to the Lowder Company so that students can shop for a quality of life

Once again trees are in danger of the axe in Old Cloverdale. One would believe that the destruction of many giant beautiful trees by Hurricane Ivan and other destructive storms in the last five years is punishment enough for the homeowners in the area, but apparently the tree population is again to be put at risk by Huntingdon College. Next week they are asking the City Council to rezone the part situated in the Fairview and Boultier corner of Old Cloverdale. They apparently have made a financial deal with the Lowder Company which requires the College to have the property rezoned before any actual cash changes hands. It is ironic that when the College made their successful bid to purchase the property from the City, the Old Cloverdale Association and many individual owners in the area donated money to the Huntingdon College Fund to support its proposal because they were told at the time that it would prevent developers moving in to the area. In giving support to a college that was well liked and in the middle of part of the Old Clovedale village, it was expected that the presence of part of the campus would protect the green area and trees from undesirable development and loss. There are trees in the Boultier and Fairview corner of the school grounds that are irreplaceable.
The giant Bur Oak tree pictured here is one of only two in Montgomery, and its wonderful supply of giant acorns is said to have been the source for the other specimen.

The information coming out of the College has been changing continuously. It was first presented as the only way to speed up the return to accreditation for the college, but their link contradicts that.

http://www.huntingdon.edu/news/archive/2006/0ct/10_05-06_message
Part of the statement there is “I am confident that the Special Committee's observations and conclusions will lead to the removal of probation and to the continuation in good standing of our accreditation in December.I am grateful to all of you. It is an honor to serve as your president. For the College,_Cam West .”

Lately we hear that a second reason for the sale is a quality of life issue, as one of the biggest objections for students to come to the college is that there is nothing to do and providing shops will attract the college groups!

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There will be a meeting October 23rd.at 6:30pm in Flowers Hall on the Huntingdon Campus during which representatives of Huntingdon College and Lowder Realty present information about the proposed rezoning of the old Cloverdale Junior High property. Neighbors are encouraged to attend. The basic proposal appears to take out existing green space and some of the best trees in the area in order to build lofts, townhouses and shops, and to pave much of the area for parking.
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Things for Huntingdon students to do
In the recent rush to rezone the property at the corner of Fairview and Boultier for mixed commercial/residential use, we heard that Ken Upchurch, speaking on behalf of Huntingdon College, explained that part of the reason to sell the green space was to “improve the quality of life” for Huntington students by providing shops that would attract college groups. We are told he explained that one of the biggest reasons students object to coming to Huntingdon is that there is nothing to do. We would like to offer some suggestions for activities for these college students:

• Go to movies at the Capri Community Film Society. (One block from campus.) Great new films, special festivals and opportunities to meet with filmmakers go on all the time.
• Hang out at Capital Book and News. (Also one block from campus.) Interesting books, cool folks to talk with, occasional author signings.
• Drink coffee and ponder the meaning of life at Café Louisa, eat at Tomatino’s or El Rey, eat outside at Sinclairs (again, one block from campus).
• Spend time in Huntingdon’s excellent library (on campus).
• Walk, bike, rollerblade in the surrounding neighborhoods – there are shady streets, fairly low traffic.
• Spend time practicing or going to musical events at the really nice music building on campus or at Flowers Hall.
• Get involved with the theater group – put on a show.
• Ask outside groups to establish activities on campus. As a member of the Taoist Tai Chi Society, I know that we have been trying for several years to find a way to offer Tai Chi classes on the Huntingdon campus for staff and students. Other groups would love to help students start branches on campus – such as the Sierra Club or Habitat for Humanity.
• Establish a campus Chess club or “Go” club.
• Get involved with church activities – the First United Methodist Church is within walking distance and welcomes students to be involved in worship and volunteer activities.
• Sponsor local festivals (kite flying, alternative music, dance) to take place on Huntingdon’s beautiful green.
• Volunteer to help tutor children in Montgomery public schools.
• Oh my gosh – go to classes.

Does anyone really think that hanging out in shops is a fun and desirable activity for teens and young adults? I cannot imagine a single type of shop that would attract kids so much that they would base their college choice on being near it. (A head shop? A gaming arcade?) In the incredibly unlikely event that Urban Outfitters or any hip chain located in this area, would kids spend their time hanging out there once they spent their semester’s allowance? Would this be a good thing for improving anyone’s quality of life?

In all reality, the shops likely to afford the rent will be high end gift and specialty shops, similar to several really nice establishments now on Fairview. I love these shops, but I am a middle aged resident of the neighborhood, not a student. I am sure that smart kids like the ones who attend Huntingdon can figure out something better to do than admiring French linens with old ladies like me.

Judith Rogers is a psychologist who has practiced in Montgomery for over 25 years and has lived in Old Cloverdale for 32 years. She has served on the board of the Capri Community Film Society in the past and currently volunteers as an instructor with the Taoist Tai Chi Society.

Send us your comments editor@oldcloverdale.com

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• Some Halloween visitors
• Capri's successful Gala

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Old Cloverdale Gazette
1728 Mulberry St.
Montgomery, AL 36106