And Here's A Little More!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

And Here's A Little More!

GALEWOOD TALE: A possible compromise has emerged in the longstanding stalemate between developer Cal Boender and city officials over development of Galewood Yards on the Northwest Side. City planners have demanded the 50-acre site be reserved for industrial use, which Boender, president of North Development Ltd., has insisted is a dead market. He maintains he could put homes and movie theaters there in a flash.

A source reports Boender is close to a deal with the Chicago unit of the Laborers International Union that could end the impasse. The union is said to want about 20 acres on the western part of the property for a training center. If that happens, the city would then agree to the theaters and about 150 homes on the eastern half. Boender declined to comment.

Galewood Yards is old railroad property at 1900 N. Central. The training center would supplement a similar operation the Laborers have in Carol Stream. The union wants a city location to help it recruit minorities.

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Arlene Jones' Biography

I was born in Chicago. I grew up in Cabrini Green. I attended Wells Sr High, the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle where I majored in Spanish and minored in Education. I have a diploma in Computer Programming.

I moved to Austin when I purchased a home here. I have two children.

I have been active in the community since moving here. I started with my blockclub. In the early 1990s, I worked with several people to try and form the North Austin Homeowners Association. I even went on patrol with a group of people who had a walkie talkie car patrol of the neighborhood.

As with most programs in the AA community, many factors led to the demise of those groups. Lack of support from elected officials was at the top of the list.

There were several people who had a group and we met out of DaVinci Manor. DaVinci Manor was at the corner of North Ave and Central where Walgreen now stands. Again there was very little interest in saving that building and our community lost a beautiful hall.

I have protested the state of the Central Ave bridge. I worked with Leola Spann and did many a smoke out including one in the 1500 block of North Lorel where drug paraphenalia layed on the ground. I have over the years here in Austin worked with the following groups at one point or another:
Northeast Austin Organization (Mary Volpe, Tom Hosea);
Northwest Austin Council;
Mad Dads;
Brotherhood of Black Men;
Westside Health Authority;
Nobel Neighbors;
Every Block A Village;
Beat 2532;
25th District Housing Committee;
WVON Volunteer;
African American Employees at the Merchandise Mart (AAEMM);
Lafollette Park Advisory Council;
Garfield Park Conservatory Advisory Council;
Westside Executive Advisory Council;
Austin Landmark Cultural Center;
Concerned Citizens of East Garfield Park

and so many others that it gets hard to remember.

Arlene Jones

Arlene Jones - Featured Columnist Austin Weekly News

Thursday, May 28, 2009