South End's myriad of neighborhood associations talk mergers

Residents of both the South End and other downtown areas have long been perplexed that the South End has 16 individual neighborhood associations, some covering as few as three or four square blocks, while other neighborhoods have one or two associations to represent them.

The idea of consolidating as a means of pooling resources and increasing clout with the city has arisen periodically, and over 20 years ago, the South End Forum came together to discuss and tackle concerns that are common across the South End, such as public works and traffic.

Consolidation talk became more concrete recently when the New York Streets Neighborhood Association, which formed to serve residents of the Ink Block complex, began the process of joining the Old Dover Neighborhood Association (ODNA), which had previously included that area. ODNA president Ken Smith said, "It isn't a complete merger yet, but the intention as we re-affiliate is to one day be one association again. We never stopped supporting and representing our Old Dover members who lived in the north side of East Berkeley and will continue to during this period of transition."

He explained further, "The benefit isn't to Old Dover; rather to the residents themselves. It behooves them to belong to a group that meets regularly and is working tirelessly with city officials and local police to improve the safety and security of this beautiful neighborhood. We can also save time for developers and city officials by presenting to this neighborhood only once and not at two separate venues."

Steve Fox, who heads the Rutland Square Neighborhood Association and the South End Forum, commented on the pending merger, "...for Old Dover and NY Streets, it sounds to me like they have struck what seems to be the best of all possible worlds. They will continue to cooperate on issues of mutual concern, but New York Streets will meet quarterly to deal specifically with their unique buildings and environment...A 'brownstone neighborhood' is a bit different from high rise, densely populated glass and steel complexes. Recognizing that difference is important even as both associations work together on issues of common concern."

According to Fox, possible merger discussions are also taking place among the Blackstone/Franklin Squares Neighborhood Association (B/FSNA) and Worcester Square Area Neighborhood Association (WSANA); Claremont Neighborhood Association (CNA), Hurley Block Neighborhood Association and Chester Square Area Neighborhood Association (CSANA); and Rutland Street Neighborhood Association and Rutland Square Neighborhood Association.

Merging was on the agenda at the January meetings of two of the largest groups, B/FSNA and WSANA. Vadim Kuksin, co-president of B/FSNA, said at his group's January 16 meeting, "Our neighborhood association faces a lot of the same challenges and has a lot of the same goals as the neighboring associations. I feel like at times we are dividing resources to conquer these same challenges. I also think that each neighborhood association struggles with volunteers. If we combine with one or two other groups and there is a handful of passionate people that care about their community and have time for the neighborhood association, I think it would be very beneficial."

Two members of the Rutland Street Neighborhood Association were in attendance, and Kuksin brainstormed with them about joining forces on the two groups' special events such as Rutland Street's Halloween hot-dog cookout and B/FSNA's Christmastime tree and wreath sale and Heart of Gold college scholarship fundraiser. One of the Rutland Street representatives said he had talked informally with the head of the Hurley Block Neighborhood Association and got a receptive response.

Toni Crothall, head of B/FSNA's Friends of Blackstone and Franklin Squares, commented, "I think that some neighborhood associations have a culture and personality that they want to hold onto, and they should. I think we should be open to sharing administration, making sure that we are in the same conversation."

Crothall stressed the importance of having clearly defined objectives and operating procedures for newly merged organizations. "We want to be sensitive to a smaller group merging with us; we don't want to swallow them up," Kuksin said. Co-president Joe Schutt quipped, "We want it to be a true merger, not an acquisition."

Both the WSANA leadership and the Rutland Street members resolved to talk further with their members about specifics such as a group name, finances and other considerations before coming together again with recommendations.

B/FSNA treasurer Matt Mues attended WSANA's January 22 meeting, at which WSANA discussed merging, possibly with Blackstone/Franklin. WSANA board member Bob Minnocci noted that B/FSNA has a strong organizational infrastructure with a 501(c)3 designation, and such infrastructure makes an organization more effective. Like Kuksin, Minnocci spoke of the struggle of maintaining consistent participation from members and volunteers.

"A lot of people show up to advocate for their various causes, but they don't show up every month. We depend upon their participation to give us the strength that we need and being with another organization would make that larger." One resident proposed a "federal/state/local" style structure, envisioning a merger of perhaps three organizations with committees to handle localized and specific matters and projects and the larger group considering larger issues.

WSANA president George Stergios opined that it would make sense to approach a contiguous association as a merger partner and proposed discussing the idea at future WSANA meetings to contemplate questions such as whether to approach a large or smaller group.

Stergios also suggested looking at the agendas of possible merger partners for common interests. B/FSNA's Mues mused, "I am not the spokesman for Blackstone/Franklin, but we are huge we talk about the parks a lot. You guys don't want to talk about parks all the time."

As it happened, both B/FSNA and WSANA discussed change s to the Cosmopolitan project, the redevelopment of the Immaculate Conception Church at 771 Harrison Avenue, from apartments to condominiums with no additional parking spaces being constructed.