MARCH GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Suburban Terrace Civic Association March 2024 President’s Report
Hello neighbors! Spring is right around the corner. Let’s get outside and make sure our catch basins are clear and that we do not have any debris around our homes that might get washed into the basins and clog them which causes flooding on our streets. And please, do not blow or rake leaves into the drains!
January 9, 2024, Meeting Recap
Due to inclement weather, attendance at our January meeting was low. The meeting was short but informative.
Our STCA Secretary, Kim Catalano, led this meeting and did an excellent job in Lisa’s absence. Thank you, Kim!
JPSO
A brief report of the crime stats in our neighborhood was given by our Jefferson Parish Sherrif’s Office. We appreciate their attendance at our meetings and thank them for the job they do to keep our neighborhood safe.
Ochsner Medical Center
Ms. Emily Arata with Ochsner Medical Center gave a presentation outlining Ochsner’s plans for future expansion. We thank Emily and Ochsner for keeping us informed of the growth of one of our most important neighbors.
Neighborhood News
Membership dues for 2024 are now due.
Individual Membership: $15.00/year
Household Membership: $30.00/year
Please renew your membership at our meeting by seeing either our Treasurer, Rhonda Gauthier, or our Secretary, Kim Catalano at the welcome table or visit our website and renew online.
Also note that there was an issue with the PayPal function of our website. The issue has been resolved and we can once again accept payments online.
When you are at our meeting, please visit our Advisory Board Member Suzanne Falgout to purchase 50-50 tickets. This helps add to our treasury and you could win money!
On February 6, 2024, the STCA Advisory Board met with the developers from the Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corporation where they presented their proposal for development of the property located at 3844 River Road. This property is approximately one acre of land across the street from Jefferson Playground. The developers asked for a change of zoning to build residential rental housing. These developers began building apartments in 2006 in association with Volunteers of America. Their current proposal is to build one hundred high quality units, at approximately $200,000 per unit, within a 5-story building. The lower level would be built for parking. These rentals would be for low to middle income households, and they would be charged 30% of their income for rental of their unit. The STCA Advisory Board had several concerns:
• Oversaturation
• Location across from the playground
• Increased traffic
• Proximity of building/parking to River Road
• Drainage
• Precedent set for future projects
A poll was taken of Advisory Board members present and it was decided by a unanimous vote that the current zoning of the property (which is for a condominium) is appropriate and a zoning change to allow residential rental housing in this area should not be granted.
March Meeting
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at the Pink House (Thomas C. Laughlin Building) located at 4518 Jefferson Hwy. We are using this building until further notice.
The doors open at 6:30 pm and we will start promptly at 7:00 pm.
Our Guest Speakers – March 12, 2024
Candidates for the March 23, 2024, Jefferson Parish District Court Judge, 24the Judicial District Court, Division D.
• Jackie Maloney
• Jerry Smith
• Lindsey Valenti
Each candidate will have 10 minutes to speak. Questions will be taken after all candidates have spoken.
Other items on the March 23, 2024, election ballot:
• Presidential Nominee Primary
• Primary Election Committee Member
We appreciate these candidates taking time to speak to us and present their platforms.
Please exercise your right to vote on March 23, 2024. GO VOTE!
Refreshments for our next meeting will be shamrock cookies and coffee with whipped cream. Our refreshments are provided by our STCA Hospitality Committee. We thank Jeanie Knesel and Kristy Reeser for their work in providing us with a sweet treat at our meetings.
Upcoming Events
Please put our next meeting on your calendar, May 14, 2024. At this meeting, our first speaker will be Margaret Ether – CASA Advocate Recruiter. Our second speaker is Teri Hrabovsky with One Heart Nola. This is a non-profit serving children and families focusing on children in the child welfare system. Mark your calendars!
We thank you all for your support. Your Suburban Terrace Civic Association would not be in existence without a team effort by our STCA Advisory Board Members. We live and work in this neighborhood right alongside all of you. Let us know where we can help. We do what we do on a volunteer basis to help preserve our neighborhood and make sure that it is a place we are proud to call home.
Hope to see you at the meeting!
Judy Wolf
STCA Advisory Board Member