No BlockWORK for NOMA This Fall. But BlockWORK Still Needs Us!

The North Main Neighborhood association (The Old North Salisbury Association)submitted an application to the City of Salisbury's Community Appearance Commission on behalf of NOMA for its annual award-winning BlockWORK program.  But alas...once again we were not selected!

What is BlockWORK?

BLOCKWORK is grassroots program of the Community Appearance Commission's Neighborhood Leaders Alliance (NLA) designed to bring community supporters together to promote cleaner and safer neighborhoods - one block at a time.  BlockWORK addresses needs along a single residential block, and invites 100s of volunteers to the neighborhood to clean, re-landscape, and perform minor repairs on homes along the selected block. Neighborhood leaders are encouraged to submit applications for a block of their choice to compete for an intensive work day with volunteers.

After careful review of applications, a selection committee chooses a block based on potential impact to the community, feasibility of the project and neighborhood support. The selection committee also reviews the ratio of owner-occupied vs. rental homes, and whether there is strong support from neighborhood representatives. Once a year, typically coinciding with United Way's 'Day of Caring' in October, the selected block is closed to traffic and truckloads of volunteers, plants and shrubs, mulch, and tools descend upon the neighborhood in a whirlwind transformation effort!

The North Main 2015 BlockWORK Application

Members of the Old North Salisbury Association, the neighborhood association for NOMA, submitted the 800 block of North Main Street. Unfortunately, the BlockWORK program is unlikely to ever happen right on a Department of Transportation (DOT) highway such as Main Street (NC 29), and is traditionally conducted in a side-street portion of a neighborhood.

816 N Main Street ~ abandoned 10+ years

The abandoned home at 816 N Main that is in serious stages of demolition-by-neglect (and is the site of a dangerous storm drain failure in the front yard and sidewalk area - not shown here), a home which the application suggested be repaired, is also beyond the scope of what the BlockWORK project can accomplish. (A new City initiative is in the works to address abandoned homes.)

The North Main application was summarily rejected.

Bad News / Good News

That's the bad news. The good news is that a very deserving block in the Chestnut Hill Neighborhood was selected. Chestnut Hill is going through major revitalization efforts thanks to its neighbors and residents, the many churches in the neighborhood, and to organizations such as the Historic Salisbury Foundation that has stayed demolition on several circa 1900 homes there.

BlockWORK is in its 5th year and was awarded national recognition (and $10,000 to the City of Salisbury!!!) for its work, its interactive nature, and what the program represents to Salisbury.

BlockWORK History

Prior BlockWORK projects have transformed:

• 200/300 Block S. Shaver Street - 2011
• 1000 Block S. Fulton Street - 2012
• 700/800 Block E. Franklin Street - 2013
• 900 Block W. Horah Street - 2014

E. 11th & N. Main Street Beautification Project

Some extra funding from the 2013 BlockWORK project was used in NOMA for the 11th Street Beautification Project that helped us get the new green space, sidewalks, curbing, and bus shelter at the corner of E. 11th Street and North Main Street.

The City of Salisbury additionally helped us with the demolition and subsequent mini-beautification project at the corner of W. Steele and Main, so we can't complain too greatly! We certainly appreciate the impact these projects have made to the neighborhood!

Prior NOMA Applications

800 Block of N. Lee Street

The North Main Neighborhood submitted the 800 Block of N. Lee Street during the very first run of BlockWORK in 2011. This block remains a great candidate for the project, and we hope it will get submitted again in future years.

900 Block of N. Jackson Street

We submitted dual applications in 2012, submitting the 900 Block of N. Jackson Street and the 1200 Block of N. Church Street.  The 1200 Block of Church is still a viable candidate, while on Jackson, someone purchased the (3) cute little brick cottages and invested substantially in sprucing them up nicely ~ making an enormous difference to this portion of the NOMA neighborhood.

1200 Block of N. Church Street

Both years, a small team of neighbors cruised up and down all 40+ blocks of the North Main Neighborhood, taking photographs & notes on which streets could be viable candidates...and there are several!

NOMA did not submit for BlockWORK 2013 & 2014, knowing the 11th Street Beautification Project was in full swing.

FUTURE BlockWORK for NOMA

Anyone can submit a block for BlockWORK....as long as we can show a strong support team, submit a block that can be closed to traffic, and offer a street that has homes that represent a feasible project, we should be able to secure a BlockWORK project in the future for North Main.

In the meantime...if you've never volunteered for the BlockWORK day ~ you're really missing out! What a fun event and so heartwarming to see the community come together to 'make a difference'!

SAVE ♦ THE ♦ DATE ♦ BlockWORK 2015

This year's BlockWORK will be held on 'Make a Difference Day' October 24th, 2015 in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood (S. Church Street).

Save the Date and join in ~ there is a mini-project for every skill level, from serving food and drink, registering helpers, or painting/scraping/planting/repairing!




What we give now, we're sure to get back one day when BlockWORK comes to NOMA!










The North Main Neighborhood (NOMA)
www.NextDoor.com
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