Dimond Neighborhood News

by Hoang Le Banh

A Leafier Business District

Thanks to the patient and persistent work of DIA Boardmembers Jim Hill and Sam Cohen as well as the assistance of the City's Parks and Recreation Department and local nonprofit Oakland Releaf, the business district now has seven new trees planted in formerly empty tree wells. The DIA Streetscape Committee will be working with merchants to guarantee regular watering as well as select locations to cut new tree wells for even more trees.

DIA Elections April 7

The next Dimond Improvement Association Meeting will be on April 7, at 7:30 p.m., at Dimond Library. The March 3 meeting was cancelled so DIA members could attend the city's Planning Commission meeting to support neighbors and fellow members opposing the Telecare proposal at the closed Immaculate Care facility. The April meeting will include nominations as well as elections. As usual, committee chairs will also report on progress in streetscape planning, business development, and other areas.

Dimond/Fruitvale Coalition for Responsible Development

It was a long night with an agenda packed with controversy, but coalition members hung in there to present and speak. In the end, the city's Planning Commission voted to deny Telecare's application for a major conditional use permit to convert the closed Immaculate Care skilled-nursing facility into a 24-hour inpatient psychiatric hospital. Several commissioners found the location inappropriate, and all the commissioners were disturbed by Telecare's proposal to tear down two houses for a parking lot. The vote was 6-0; thus, Telecare is not expected to appeal the decision to the City Council. Stay tuned for next steps, including brainstorming alternative uses for the building.

Altenheim and Lincoln Court: Awaiting Spring Community Meetings

After the City Council approved the loan for the Altenheim redevelopment, Citizen's Housing held another community meeting on March 2 at the historic building. Extensive large-scale schematics were presented. Neighbors raised concerns about the retaining wall, parking, number of units, setback, and scale of the new building above Miami Court. Due to the poor timing of an election night meeting, Citizen's Housing will schedule an additional community meeting on this project in late March or early April to go over the latest schematics again.

After the City Council approved the loan for Lincoln Court senior housing at the former Hillcrest site, Domus Development submitted an application for state bond financing. Bond allocations will be announced on April 21. Their next step is to schedule another community meeting before submitting plans for design review.

Sequoia Traffic Monitors and Enrollment

A few blocks from the proposed Lincoln Court sits lovely Sequoia Elementary School, which needs traffic monitors to help ensure the safety of students during morning dropoff and afternoon pickup times. All it takes is 30 minutes one day a week. To volunteer, please call the office at 879-1510, and leave your name and number with Wendy Larson or Principal Kathy Maloney.

Sequoia School is still enrolling students for kindergarten for the 2004-05 school year. Classroom observations are by appointment any day of the week. Sequoia also has openings for next year at all grade levels. To schedule an appointment or to receive a beautiful Sequoia brochure, contact the school office.

Spring Is in the Air at Dimond Park

The fantastic weather has brought many people of all ages out to enjoy the beauty, openspace, flowing creek, and tot lots of our wonderful, spacious, accommodating Dimond Park. Moreover, Dimond Recreation Center started spring session on March 29.

For more information about spring session youth programs as well as to inquire about summer session, which will happen before we know it, call the center at 482-7831, or visit the center at 3860 Hanly Rd. to pick up a brochure. Also, since many young families have moved into the Dimond and Glenview in the past few years, the center will be making a major shift in fall 2004 to emphasize more programs for preschool-age children.

A Friendly Reminder

Finally, a reminder that the Friends of Dimond Library will be meeting on April 17, at 11:30 a.m., on the second floor of the library. New Friends are always welcome.

Hoang can be reached at hbanh\@lmi.net.