It may be frigid out now, but we are thinking seeds, soil and sunshine!   If you are interested in the Summit Hill Community Garden, now is the time to act.  This is a vibrant group of folks you'll love getting to know.

Please click HERE to download this year’s application and contract agreement. A printed, completed and signed 3-page document should be submitted in person or by mail to Summit Hill Association, 860 Saint Clair Avenue, St Paul, MN 55105. Checks should be made out to Summit Hill Association. Payment info will be provided after you have received your plot assignment. Residents of Summit Hill are given first priority.

March 1, 2019 was the DEADLINE to submit your application for REGISTRATION. Registration is now CLOSED. 

Email us with questions:  summithillcg@gmail.com  

The Summit Hill Association (SHA), and the Grand Avenue Business Association (GABA), are forming a task force to brainstorm ideas that ultimately contribute to city policy of how to support a vibrant local business community on East Grand Avenue. Neighbors in Summit Hill benefit from a vibrant and prosperous business community on Grand Avenue and are excited to be partnering with GABA in the creation of this task force.

Details:

This task force is in response to an invitation from Councilmember Rebecca Noecker to create a neighborhood-focused report that supports businesses on East Grand Avenue. SHA and GABA are excited about this opportunity to come together to engage in a robust discussion about how we can work together to foster a strong business climate on Grand Avenue.

The task force will focus on assessing and proposing opportunities for tax, financing, urban planning and other solutions to support locally-based businesses with storefronts along Grand Avenue, east of Ayd Mill Road.

Prior to the convening of the task force, volunteers from the community will conduct surveys of business owners along Grand Avenue. Information gathered from the surveys will be used to guide the work of the task force.

The task force will include members from each association, along with four community members that will be selected from this application.

Community members who are interested in applying should fill out THIS FORM. The deadline for submission is 5:00PM on FRIDAY, Feb 8th, 2019.

For questions contact director@summithillassociation.org or connie@grandave.com

SHA Zoning and Land Use Public Hearing

Concerning 770 Grand Ave request for Rezoning

Sunday, January 27, 2019, 3:00PM

Palace Rec Center Meeting Room, 781 Palace Avenue, St Paul

The Summit Hill Association (SHA) provides notice of this hearing so residents and business owners have the opportunity to attend or comment on the proposed project.

The owner is petitioning the City to rezone the property at 770 Grand Ave from a BC (residence converted to business) property to a T2 (traditional neighborhood) for the purpose of “sales of ice cream, treats, and hot beverages (tea house).” Food service is not allowed under BC zoning, but would be an allowed use under T2 zoning. The property is currently a hair salon. Analysis of this request is available by clicking HERE

The SHA Zoning and Land Use Committee will review and make neighborhood recommendations to the City regarding these applications. You are invited to attend the hearing or submit written comments in advance of the hearing. Written comments must be received by noon Saturday, January 26, 2019 and should be sent to SHA at the above address or by email to info@SummitHillAssociation.org. If you have questions, you may call the SHA office at 651-222-1222.

Please note that due to space constraints, this meeting will be held at the PALACE REC CENTER, 781 Palace Avenue, St Paul

An option for discarding your tree is to participate in the fundraiser being held by the Summit Hill Community Garden. For a contribution to the garden you can schedule collection of your tree, (withOUT height limits) while supporting a worthy cause. In years past the Community Garden has used the funds from this project to add to their supply of communal tools and equipment and to make needed improvements to the garden site. The fee for tree collection is $15.00. Payments should dropped off or sent to Libby Furlong, SHCG, 887 Saint Clair Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55105 and must be received by January 10th in order to have your tree included, which gives the time to make up maps for volunteers. Pick up will be on Saturday, January 12th between 9AM - 12PM. Trees should be placed out on the boulevard by 7AM.

Follow this link for more information about the Summit Hill Community Garden!

Give Where You Live!

As you think about your year-end contributions, consider investing in your community’s future by making a contribution to the Summit Hill Association (SHA).

Your donation will boost the year-round efforts of SHA to maintain the vibrancy of our neighborhood through community projects and programs. The work of SHA is accomplished primarily by volunteers—many from right here in the community—and is made possible by the generosity of many residents like you. 

There is so much your gift will support, including the volunteer committees of SHA. This year, the Traffic Calming & Safety Committee collaborated with the City of Saint Paul to identify intersections on Grand Avenue that would benefit from safety improvements, including curb extensions and traffic signal upgrades. The Environmental & Beautification Committee partnered with a classroom at Linwood Elementary to learn more about raingardens and their maintenance. To document this special field trip, Artist Annie Hejny created a new art piece which now hangs at the Linwood Rec Center. In the upcoming year,SHA is excited to be hosting a book club series and discussions addressing challenging issues affecting our neighborhood and our city, as well as a renter’s and landlord’s forum to facilitate awareness and communications between landlords and the almost 50% of those renting Summit Hill residents.

Put plainly: we couldn’t do what we do without your support!

There are several ways to make a contribution to the Summit Hill Association:

• Click HERE to donate to the SHA Annual Appeal by credit card on this website.

• Return the SHA Annual Appeal envelope included with your upcoming edition of The Summit, the SHA newsletter (arriving in your mailboxes soon), to the SHA Offices.. Checks can be made out to Summit Hill Association.

• Take advantage of the IRA Charitable Rollover. Individuals who are 701/2 years or older can transfer money from their traditional IRA account directly to charitable organizations like the Summit Hill Association. Talk to your financial advisor to learn more about this option. 

• Have your contribution to SHA matched by your employer! Many companies offer employer matching gifts, which often result in a dollar-for-dollar match of your donation. Visit tinyurl.com/SHAmatch, then enter your employer into the search bar. Most of the time, having your gift matched is as easy as filling out a quick online form. 

Thank you for your generosity and support!

An Opportunity to Recognize Special Efforts

Have you noticed a group or business or an individual here in Summit Hill who have gone above and beyond to be helpful to others in the community? From neighborly good deeds to starting initiatives to raise awareness and bring positive change or a commitment to service where we live, we all know someone like this – someone who is always helping to make Summit Hill a better place to live.
 
The Summit Hill Association greatly values its volunteers and we look forward to recognizing outstanding community members from Summit Hill as part of the citywide Neighborhood Honor Roll Celebration. Summit Hill residents nominate neighbors who have made significant and lasting impacts in the community each year—and whom they feel deserve special recognition. Honorees are then chosen from submitted nominees by the SHA Board to join other honorees from across the city at a special celebration in their honor. 

This year SHA will recognize honorees from each of three categories, Individuals, Businesses and Organizations (scouting troops, community service organizations, etc.). Members of the Summit Hill community are encouraged to submit nominees from each of these categories. We will select one honoree from each and support their recognition at the city-wide event. 
 
To submit your nominations, use the following form: https://goo.gl/forms/nOf3Qd6t0TWJC7UF3

The deadline has been extended until Tuesday, January 8th, 2019.

We’d appreciate your help in identifying and honoring some of the best around us! 

Listening Sessions hosted by the City of Saint Paul

SAINT PAUL HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION (HPC)

NOTICE OF PUBLIC EVENTS

Listening Sessions for Local Historic District Property Owners

Summit Avenue West Historic District

Tuesday, December 4, 2018  5:30 – 6:30 PM

Summit Center for Arts and Innovation, 1524 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul

Historic Hill Historic District 

Tuesday, December 11, 2018 5:30 – 6:30 PM

Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, Clubroom C 270 Kent Street, Saint Paul

For any designated heritage site or structure located within a locally designated heritage district, approval from Saint Paul Heritage Preservation office is required for any exterior projects. Design review will focus on ensuring that sensitive improvements will maintain key historic features, the historic integrity of the property, and the character of the heritage district. Residents are welcome to attend either of the two listening session.

The Heritage Preservation Commission is currently seeking feedback on the policies, procedures and impact of heritage preservation in Saint Paul. 

Links to feedback questionnaires, along with numerous additional links to City of Saint Paul public reference information and recent news articles regarding this important conversation are provided below.

Reference Materials

Current Ordinance

Proposed Ordinance

Historic Preservation Guidelines - 1990

Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Brochure

City of Saint Paul Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) webpage

Property Locators

Interactive map

Online property search

Surveys

Historic District Survey

Environmental Assessment Worksheet

Press coverage

• Better home preservation in historic districts — or St. Paul overreach?
• Preservation or over-reach? St. Paul rules about old windows are a test case
• Does St. Paul’s heritage preservation commission encourage bland development? One member thinks so.

Visions of Safety

Setting up 360 degree visibility proof of concept in the alley of our Summit Hill Neighborhood. Our Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming committee is putting together a plan for similar setups in obstructed view alleys throughout the neighborhood. We are currently researching funding sources for this project.

What do you think? Do you have an alley intersection you’d like to nominate for consideration? CLICK HERE to submit your suggestion!!!