Tag Archives: Getting involved in WPB

Sober Homes in the Southend? Town Hall Meeting This Wednesday.

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This Wednesday, October 14, there will be a community engagement town hall meeting to discuss sober homes and responsive actions that policy makers can take to balance the issue. The town hall will be an opportunity for residents to engage early in the discussion and offer local solutions to community needs and challenges.

What’s the skinny on this issue?

  • Many towns and cities have attempted to regulate sober homes, but have found themselves restricted by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as federal fair housing laws.
  • Sober homes, or halfway houses, are not regulated by the state since they do not provide treatment. And because alcoholism and addiction are recognized mental disorders, people who suffer from these conditions are protected under the ADA.
  • In February 2015, Rep. Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach, told a group of mayors and other municipal officials from her district that she had asked Housing and Urban Development Sec. Julian Castro and officials in the Justice Department about ways to help local governments regulate sober houses without violating federal law.
  • In June 2015, Governor Scott signed the “Sober Home Bill” into law. This bill establishes a voluntary certification program for recovery residences and recovery residence administrators. It prohibits licensed substance abuse treatment providers from referring patients to recovery residences which are not certified or not owned and operated by a licensed substance abuse treatment provider.

This is an issue that can impact our local community. Learn where the government officials stand and voice your opinion this Wednesday.

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See Into The Southend’s Future Tomorrow Morning

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With two public meetings and a 3-day design charette behind them (see more info here), the RMA is ready to unveil its options for the development of the 8111 S. Dixie Highway property. See the note from SENA below.

Dear Neighbors,

As you may know RMA, the company which manages the City of West Palm Beach’s Community Redevelopment Agency, has been working to create some proposals for the development of the 8111 site and possible tie-ins with the golf course and the Palm Coast Plaza.

After two public meetings and a 3-day design charrette, RMA developed some options which they will present to the public tomorrow at 10am. This is hugely important for the South End and we need as many people to come and show support as possible.
RMA will be presenting on Tuesday at 10am
at the Flagler Gallery, City Hall

We hope to see you there!

Best regards,
Your South End Neighbors

SENA

About SENA

The South End Neighborhood Association was formed in 2004. Our neighborhood in West Palm Beach, Florida is bounded by Southern Boulevard to the north, the Lake Worth spillway to the south, the intracoastal waterway to the east, and the FEC railway tracks to the west. There are more than 2,500 homes in the South End. Currently we have over 300 households as members and SENA is growing fast!

Want To Tell The City of WPB How To Spend Your Money? Here’s how…

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The City of West Palm Beach is launching its annual budget city budget road show. This is your chance to find out how they are currently spending your tax dollars and give them your thoughts as to how to spend them in next year’s budget.

Three community workshops will be held this week:

Monday, July 27th
South Olive Community Center
345 Summa Street
6:00pm

Wednesday, July 29th
Gaines Park Community Center
1505 N. Australian Avenue
6:00pm

Thursday, July 30th
Fire Station # 7
8011 Okeechobee Boulevard
6:00pm

Make a point to attend one of these three meetings and let your opinion be heard.

What’s Happening On Gregory Road? Find Out This Thursday…

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From the Southend Neighborhood Association:

Thursday July 9th at 6:30 pm., please join SENA and the City of West Palm Beach Public Works Department to discuss an important project set on Gregory Road. The City and FPL will be making a powerpoint presentation with an open discussion to address FPL’s current project. FPL is set to replace all the old wood poles with concrete poles.

The City has asked SENA to facilitate communication between our members, FPL and the City. The specific area that is affected is Gregory Road between Olive Ave. and Dixie Highway. The discussion will focus on placement options, back of sidewalk or within the swale area.

Even if you do not live on Gregory, we are all neighbors and share in what happens in our community. We would like to make sure we have a large turnout. City is providing refreshments.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Best regards,
Your South End Neighbors

SENA

Help Design The Next Chapter of West Palm Beach’s Southend Neighborhood

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In 2012, after rumors began circulating that Wal-Mart had eyes on developing 8111 South Dixie Highway (the site of the old IHOP), the City purchased the 7-acre piece of property for $2.9 million. City leaders wanted to focus on a more innovative project that would help continue revitalizing the Southend. And, as the Southern most piece of property in West Palm Beach, leaders view it as as the gateway to the City for those coming from the South.

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The site was cleared in October of last year and now the City of West Palm Beach is looking for help with the redevelopment of 8111.  From the 18th till the 21st of May, the City will be hosting Design Charrettes.

The Design Charrette Kickoff meeting is tonight, May 18th at the South Olive Community Center, 345 Summa St, @ 6:30PM.

Come visit the Design Charrette Sessions, which will be held in the Hibiscus Room at Mandel Public Library

Tuesday, May 19 – Open to Public 6PM to 8PM
Wednesday, May 20 – Open to Public 6PM to 8PM
Thursday, May 21– Open to Public 10AM to 12PM

The designers will be working each of the 3 days from 9:30AM to 8:00PM.

The public session will be available for the public to come view what the designers are working on and give their feedback and ideas as the designs are developed.

Want to view the final plans and see what’s next for the Southend?

On May 20 at 6PM, you’re invited to sit in on a special session where the Parks Master plan draft will be unveiled.

This is your chance to help create the kind of neighborhood you want to live in. Don’t let the opportunity to get involved pass you by.