East of Boston Neighbors Meeting

The UNIT Neighborhood Association hosted a forum for neighbors residing East of Boston on Sunday May 15th at Forrest Heights Methodist Church. UNIT NA President Susan Tomlinson lead the forum which was attended by Lubbock Chief of Police Roger Ellis, Codes Enforcement Representative George Torres and District 3 City Councilman Todd Klein.  Around 30 residents sat in the audience.   

Susan listed various reasons and conditions which necessitated the forum- specifically deteriorating conditions of the homes east of Boston Avenue.  She and other board members conducted a walk of area recently to observe these conditions. 

Chief Ellis urged residents to get to know their neighbors as a counter to loud partiers and not to hesitate contacting the police or Code Enforcement if needed. 

President Tomlinson explained that a lot of the Tech students are temporary residents who do not feel invested in the neighborhood therefore do not care what happens in it. 

Todd Klein urged residents to report excessive partiers or other codes issues to his office (775-2050) or to call the 311 during business hours. 

President Tomlinson referenced a neighborhood study titled "Broken Windows" which chronicled a neighborhood's decline and resurgence.  She emphasized that maintenance of the homes is important to maintain the integrity of the entire neighborhood.  Codes Enforcement is one too to help. 

President Tomlinson then mentioned that realtors need to be educated to the "No More Than Two Unrelateds" ordinance in the neighborhood.  She told the account of a family who purchased a home on her block with the intention of putting their daughter and her three friends in it only to find out about the ordinance.  The family took legal action against the realtor. 

President Tomlinson also presented her ideas for changing the culture of the behavior for Tech Students.  She plans on contacting the faculty advisers of the fraternities and sororities to emphasize good behavior in our residential neighborhood.  She also presented ideas for a neighborhood tool shed, neighborhood work days and a potential program for low cost lending to people who will occupy homes in the East of Boston area. 

She also suggested having a Night Out for the UNIT Neighborhood after the Tech Students return this fall. 

Parking along 22nd Street between University and Boston was discussed.  That stretch of street gets very congested during school days.