Who else is here in the Bon Air Area? The Other Neighborhood Associations.

 This week I would like to introduce you or describe the different neighborhood associations in the Bon Air area besides the Bon Air Neighborhood Association.  The other neighborhood associations are: Highgate Springs, Bon Air Estates and Highgate Springs/Melbourne Heights.  I will say that I have based this post on my personal knowledge and history in the area, some online digging on Nextdoor and the close-to-defunct www.Neighborhoodlink.com  and information from the Kentucky Secretary of State website (www.sos.ky.gov).  If you wish to contact the organizations,  you can find limited contact information as to who the registered agents are by going to the Secretary of State Website.

Highgate Springs

Highgate Springs was the first of the current neighborhood associations to be started in 2005 by the now defunct Louisville Metro Department of Neighborhoods.  

Over it’s 13 years, it has focused on code compliance by home owners and some beautification.  It has tended to have some of the same people at the helm.   The main, lasting achievement has been the garden and sign at the intersection of Furman and Taylorsville Road.  They do a very good job of mowing that median, maintaining the garden, and keeping the intersection clean.  While that sign is elegant, it has been the victim of numerous cars turning too fast onto Furman.  It almost seems that a bigger achievement is keeping cars from running down the sign for several years.

Its west boundaries are Commander Drive Farnsley Park, and Rio Rita.  Its north boundaries are Brockton Lane and Taylorsville Road.  Furman Blvd is the east boundary. Hikes Point is the south boundary.

The organization typically meets the fourth Thursday of the month at the Bon Air Library.  Last I heard, the annual fee to join is $25.00.   Its current president is Donna Phillips.  You can follow them on Facebook as they have a group.

Bon Air Estates

As discussed last week, the Bon Air Estates Neighborhood Association was founded in December, 2008. They are otherwise a fairly quiet association as their foci have appeared to be 1) mowing of the public right of way along the sound wall 2) the maintenance neighborhood watches, and 3) ordinance compliance. 

Debby Murrell is a dominant personality who has been synonymous with the organization name as she has been president several times.   Debby is currently the vice president.  

She grew up in the neighborhood and still lives in the same house bought by her parents. 

The Boundaries of the organization are as follows. Goldsmith Lane is the south boundary.  The Watterson Expressway is the north boundary.  Stratford Ave is the west boundary.  The east boundary is rather diffuse but it is essentially what is east of (and not including) Commander Drive.  

From what I can tell, the organization last publicized that it holds its meetings on the first Monday of the month at 7:00pm.   The current president is Chris Wantland.  They often post a sign at the corner of ADA/Del Rio/Goldsmith when they are going to have their meetings.  

Highgate Springs/Melbourne Heights

This is the newest of the organizations.  When I met one of the organizers back in 2009, she told me that it was for the purpose of building social relationships in the neighborhood.   Their boundaries are Furman Blvd going east.  They do not appear to have much of a profile online.   You can look at the organization profile at the secretary of state website.   According to the secretary of state documents, the current president is Vicki Larmee.

Bashford Manor Neighborhood Association

What surprised me in this research is that the Bashford Manor Neighborhood Association is still ticking.  There was some attempt at cooperation between Bashford Manor and BANA when the Bardstown Road Corridor project was still going.  We had lost contact with them, but according to the Secretary of State website the organization is still active and its president is Donna Ising.

Bon Air Neighborhood Association (BANA)

Then there is us.   Our western boundary is Bardstown Road.  Our southern boundary is Hikes Lane. Our eastern boundary is Rio Rita.  Our northern boundary is somewhat diffuse as it includes Goldsmith lane and the streets of Fureen Drive Sharon Circle and Stratford Avenue.   While some still view that if you live in a particular area you should to go to that association . . .  we actually have been accepting of people outside of our boundaries to those who have interest in the organization.  It is your choice

 I am honestly interested in more and more people being part of a neighborhood association and supporting local organization.  The organizations with larger memberships are more likely to gain the attention and cooperation of Metro Council members.   I suggest that an hour going to a local neighborhood association has more value and can contribute more to the world than one hour spent on social media arguing with strangers from Arkansas about politics.

The next BANA meeting will be Monday, February 11, 2019 in the community room of the Bon Air Library at 6:30 pm.  There are plenty of chairs and I would love to see you there.  We would love your attendance and your membership.  Our annual membership dues are $10.00.