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Have you been wanting to participate here on Procter Neighborhood, but you’re not quite sure how?  It starts by creating an account.

When you create a WordPress account, you can set up your user profile.  This allows you to add a photo and tell us who you are.  Once you have a profile set up, you can leave comments and start adding to the fun.  If you really get into it, we can set you up with author privileges, so you can write your own posts. 

This is a community, and it’s made up of many points of view.  Yours is important.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a techie to get started.  You do need to have an e-mail account, though.  If you don’t have an e-mail account, you can get a free account from Yahoo or Google.  Both of these services are free and easy to use.  Plus, since they’re not associated with your Internet Service Provider (such as AT&T), you can keep them even if you switch from dial-up to cable modem to DSL and back.

When I see a Brooklyn neighborhood fly

I’ve been fascinated by DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), a neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, since reading a review of the art and craft environment there. New York’s artists are famous for revitalizing neighborhoods, so it’s no surprise that the artists of the 1970s were followed by decades of development that resulted ultimately in gentrification. Check out an interactive map of the neighborhood here.

The combination of art, craft, design, and technology (along with real estate development) provide energy and capital in this manufacturing hub-turned arts community.

Why blog about it here?

As a furniture maker, I’m intensely interested in creating a thriving craft environment in the area. I know of at least one other designer craftsman in the area: Bristol neighborhood resident Tim O’Neill, owner of Round Tree Design. I’ve heard of some young people in the neighborhood who’re developing a craft talent, as well. Englewood has the potential to develop an art and craft focus if we can carve out some gallery space to highlight local artists and artisans.

As a resident in an older community, I’m interested in learning from the growth of other neighborhoods across America. In communities like DUMBO, where de-industrialization leaves behind empty warehouses and other spaces, artists and artisans can reclaim and redefine a space, bringing new life and new energy to the neighborhood. Artists and entrepreneurs together can work to bring life to these old homes and businesses.

DUMBO proves to me that you don’t have to have a good economy to grow a neighborhood. The fundamentals go beyond recession and boom. What we need are creativity, energy, passion, and commitment. Most of all, we need a shared vision.

So what’s your vision for Procter’s future?

The Future of Procter Recycles

The Procter Recycles effort has been a great experience. We’ve gotten to know each other better as neighbors. Many of you have told me how dramatically recycling has reduced the amount of trash you take to the curb. I know with my family of four, we may fill up our trash can once every three weeks, instead of every week.

We’ve created new habits, and awoken to the impact we have on the environment.

Personally, it’s been a rewarding process for me. I was able to meet several neighbors. I’ve drawn great satisfaction from sharing my passion for environmental issues with so many.

In the back of my mind, though, this nagging thought persisted: How could we make Procter Recycles scale up to serve more people? If two blocks were filling up the back of my long-bed pickup, it would take an effort of institutional size to grow this effort exponentially.

Additionally, sorting had become an issue. Even with the assistance of two young men willing to tag along and help sort this material, it was taking an increasing amount of time to service a dozen households. How could we ever hope to serve five hundred?

And then the Independence School District made their announcement. They have partnered with Deffenbaugh to put drop-off bins at each school. The district would get a set number of dollars per ton of material they collect, and use those funds to reduce the need for fundraising events during the school year. 

Four weeks ago, I began taking the neighborhood recycling to the new recycling bin on the southeast corner of the Procter Elementary lot. I was pleased to see the amount of material that’s accepted. Glass and plastic bags are the only materials not accepted that we handled in the past. Plus, there’s no sorting required. It’s incredibly convenient, and the distance is negligible.

Now that we have a drop-off bin in our neighborhood, it’s time for Procter Recycles to evolve. It’s time for us to switch from a curbside pick-up model that had hit capacity to a drop-off model that has plenty of room to grow.

So here’s a new stretch goal for the neighborhood. We’ve built this great habit of recycling. It’s time to take it to the next level, to build the drop-off step into our routines. It couldn’t get much closer, and the school district receives the benefit.

For those of you still concerned, as I am, with glass recycling, you can take your glass to the Deramus Community Recycling Center at 4707 Deramus (north of Front St., east of Chouteau).

I want to thank Larry Roberts, James McDonald, and Justin McDonald for their continuing help throughout this project.

Orientation sessions planned for tax abatement application

Interested in applying for the Fairmout-Carlisle 353 Redevelopment Plan’s tax abatement? Looking for assistance in filling out the application?

The City of Independence announced that they will host informal seminars to coach residents through the process. Seminars will be hosted at the Fairmount Community Center at 6 PM on the following dates:

• February 25
• March 25
• April 22
• May 27
• June 24
• August 26
• September 23
• October 28
• November 18
• December 16

To apply for the tax abatement, contact Patricia Robinson, tax abatement administrator. You can reach Ms. Robinson by phone at 325-7426, or by e-mail at perobinson@indepmo.org.

Think Rain Barrels for Spring

Thinking about spring rains and your foundation? Consider a rain barrel or rain garden.

Rain barrels keep water away from your foundation and out of storm sewers. You can use collected rain water to wash your car or water your lawn and garden. Collecting and using rainwater lowers the burden on water treatment facilities and eases drought conditions.

Fine Gardening has posted this quick and easy video tutorial for creating a functional and pest-free rain barrel for less than $50. If you’re a hard-core do-it-yourselfer, don’t miss the handy parts list they provide.

If I’ve piqued your interest, but you’d prefer the comfort of a workshop, Bridging the Gap offers rain barrel workshops, plus a parts kit and 55-gallon barrels for sale. If there’s enough interest, we could even organize an on-site workshop for the neighborhood. Leave a comment below to indicate your interest. See these frequently asked questions for more on the benefits and details.

While rain barrels save excess rainwater for later, rain gardens divert water and manage it on-site to help prevent soil erosion, filter pollutants to keep them out of streams and lakes, and reduce the burden on storm sewer systems. The Kansas City region’s 10,000 Rain Gardens program offers an incredible amount of information to help you get started.

The Mid-America Regional Council offers some good rain garden information, including suggestions on native plants, instructions on how to build a rain garden, and brochures on the benefits of native plants and how-to tips and suggestions.

Working on a print newsletter

A print-based newsletter is in the works to spread the word about our new website and the weekly curbside recycling program.

Printing costs alone would be around $30, so we’d love to get sponsorship from area businesses. In return for sponsorship, the newsletter will include a tasteful acknowledgement of support.

Click here for a preview of the newsletter.

Tax abatement may be coming soon

The city of Independence has proposed expanding the Fairmount-Carlisle Redevelopment Plan to include the Procter and Bristol neighborhoods.  The plan provides property tax abatements if you make eligible improvements to your property.  Here’s a draft of the amended plan.  It will be a great opportunity for homeowners, and provide investment incentive to help rebuild Northwest Independence!

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Don’t know how? Want to learn more? Watch this video from Common Craft.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

I know, you’ve been in the neighborhood – many of you longer than I have.  But how well do you know your neighbors, and how well do your neighbors know you? 

My thoughts for this website were simple: provide a place to promote the great stuff people are doing, to exchange information about how we might help each other, to highlight what a great neighborhood we have, and to shine a spotlight on the progress being made in bringing Northwest Independence back to life.

But as much as I love writing (and I do love writing), it wouldn’t be a neighborhood website without participation.  Do you want to add content?  All you have to do is create a WordPress account and let me know in the comments below that you want to be an author.  Even if you don’t want to be an author, participate in the comments!  It’s a great way to let people know what you think!

Procter Recycles: Week Five

We had a great week this week!  Eight households nearly filled my pickup.  Way to go, Procter!

We’ve reached a point where it’s more efficient for me to do some presorting.  If you could start leaving your recycling in a spare (even broken) storage tub, that would make it easier for me to do that presorting.  

Also, please be sure to rinse anything that contained food or beverages.

Procter Recycles: Week Two

Procter Neighborhood, we’re making great progress.  We doubled our participation this week!  Eight households contributed recycling this week.  That’s 160 miles per gallon per household!  Keep up the great work, and help spread the word, too! 

Once again, I got to meet more Procter neighbors: Diane, Dee, Heather and John.  It was great to meet you all!  So far, I think that’s one of the best parts of this adventure!

This was our first week of glass recycling.  I took it up to the Bridging the Gap drop-off at Deramus and Choteau.  I combined that trip with one to Habitat ReStore to donate a load of landscaping bricks.  I’ve been through their showroom before – they have some great materials worth buying, and the proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity.

Marcie Gragg has asked the City Manager’s office to look into partnering with Bridging the Gap to provide glass recycling at Independence drop-off sites.  More news as I hear it!

We have a glass recycler!

Great news, Procter Neighborhood! Bridging the Gap can accept our glass.

Here’s what they require:

Rinse… No dishes of any kind including wine glasses, plates, Pyrex, etc. No flower vases, light bulbs or flat panes of glass. No opaque colored glass.

Pretty simple. 

Phase 2: Let’s convince the City of Independence to partner with BTG to accept glass at the city’s two recycling drop-off sites.

Brush Drop-Off Co-op?

One of the reasons I bought a truck was so I could easily take brush to the brush drop-off.  Brush is $10 per load, on the second Saturday of the month.  I don’t usually have a full load, so I’ve been paying for a yard waste pickup service that I hardly use.

Here’s what I’m willing to do.  If you want to chip in on the $10 fee, I’ll come pick up your brush and take it with me.  If you know an elderly person who needs assistance with it, let me know, and I’ll pick up their brush for free. 

Sound good?  Leave a comment, and let me know what you think!

Procter Neighborhood Recycling Project

We got off to a great start!  Three neighbors joined me in recycling in our first week, bringing our MPG-per-household up from 20 to 80!  Instead of each of us making the five-mile round trip to the 35th St recycling center, we sent four families’ recycling to the drop-off on .25 gallons of gasoline!  Think of it like car-pooling, only you don’t have to sit that close! 

We also picked up some recyclable litter along the way.

Along with the benefits we’ve created, I got to meet new neighbors.  It was great to meet Abby and Billie this week!  Abby contributed her recycling – thanks Abby! 

So far we’ve talked to neighbors on S. Park Ave. and S. Proctor Pl. between Winner Rd. and Linden St.  Next week, I’ll add S. Fuller St., S. Vassar Ave, S. Norton Ave, and S. Scott Ave., also between Winner and Linden.  If you’re outside that range, please leave a comment below, and I’ll be happy to include your block!

Again, don’t worry about sorting.  Simply gather up your recyclable materials in whatever way is most convenient, set it out on the curb by 10 AM Saturdays, and we’ll do the rest! 

Remember, if you have any questions about what’s recyclable, check here.

Want to get involved, share your ideas, or just shout out to your neighbors?  Leave a comment, don’t be shy!