There has been a real resurgence in neighborhood association business for the past few years surrounding Avondale Point, thanks in part to the dual-edged sword of progress.
Katherine Anderson welcomed scores of her Avondale neighbors into her home Wednesday evening to revive and re-form their neighborhood association.
The Avondale Neighborhood has been pressured on both its Savannah Highway and St. Andrews Boulevard sides by commercial expansion.
Along Savannah Highway and Magnolia Road, the popularity of the businesses there have choked the yards in front of homes and churches with shoppers and diners’ cars. Along Highway 61, demand for a table at the Mex 1 Coastal Cantina has meant more cars in more yards.
But unlike the Ashley Forest Neighborhood next door, which just rejuvenated its association this weekend, Avondale hasn’t had the benefit of municipal “no parking” signs, and has had to rely on handmade warnings.
Anderson, who works in accounting at a local insurance office, said that her association wants to get past the dreary business side of protecting its borders, and move on to “funner” pastimes, like street parties.
Anderson said that now people of the local neighborhoods have been communicating, and sharing complaints and solutions, including Avondale, Ashley Forest, Byrnes Down, Westover, Moreland, and others.
“The point is, we want to have a voice and get that voice out,” said Anderson, who also created nextdoor.com, a private social network for neighborhoods.
On Sunday, residents of the Ashley Forest Neighborhood came together to hold an election to decide who would lead their association forward. The association recently finished the dotting of I’s and crossing of T’s the city requests to become a member of the mayor’s neighborhood association council.
Those involved in efforts in both neighborhoods credit a charette put on lat year by local private planners hosted by the Mellow Mushroom that allowed them to see that everyone was dealing with many of the same issues: parking, traffic, an increase in crime, and the desire for local governments to hear their concerns.

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