January Neighborhood Newsletter

Happy New Year! As we step into this brand-new year, full of possibilities, we're pumped to share some exciting news and ways to make 2024 awesome in Vickery Place.

šŸŒŸ Fresh Start, Fresh Goals:
Got any resolutions in mind? Whether it's getting fit, learning something cool, or just making new pals, let's make Vickery Place the place where your 2024 dreams come true.

šŸ” Get in on the Neighborhood Fun:
Let's make 2023 the year you really get into the Vickery Place groove! Join a club, lend a hand at events, or just swing by neighborhood get-togethers. Your vibe makes our neighborhood thrive!

šŸ“… What's Coming Up:
Watch out for cool stuff happening this year ā€” club kick-offs, clean-up days, and more. It's your chance to jump in, meet cool neighbors, and be a part of Vickery Place. Check out https://www.vickeryplace.com/tag/events/ to see the calendar and upcoming events!

Here's to a year of good times, new friends, and keeping things light!

Do you have any ideas for Vickery Place this year? Leave a comment to this post on the website to let us know!


šŸ· Host the 2024 Wine Walk! šŸ”šŸƒā€ā™‚ļø

The Board is hard at work planning the 2024 VPNA Wine Walk! We are seeking hosts that would like to be a stop on the Wine Walk Route! Interested in showcasing your home? It's a great chance to meet neighbors and show off your decorating skills! Please fill out the below form if you are interested in being a stop this year!


Coat Drive

Greenland Hills Neighbor, Kathleen Seacat is collecting coats for Dallas Responds. Before the bitterest weather is here, consider donating gently used or new coats to help Dallas Responds provide for their clients. Drop off through end of January at 5618 Merrimac Ave.


Pet of the Month

January's Pet of the Month: Cali

Cali will be receiving a gift basket curated just for him from our neighbor Dr. Benjamin Wright & his team at Lakewood Vet Center.

From Samantha:

Meet Cali, a 1 year old Frenchie with the cutest personality. When she isnā€™t cuddled up watching a movie on the couch or protesting for a snack, you can find Cali doing Zoomies in her new backyard. Cali loves running errands and is often seen at our local Petsmart in the Toy aisle grabbing every toy she can get. If you see Cali around or hear her barking at our neighbors cats come meet her - she loves meeting new people and of course meeting her furry neighbors since we are new to the neighborhood! 

Pet of the Month submissions have been changed from monthly to a rolling admission. Going forward, you don't have to submit every month to be considered!


Looking for a community to help support your New Years Resolution? Check out the VP Book and Run Clubs!

Monthly Book Club

Interested in joining the VPNA book club? We are a once-a-month group that meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month. Our next meeting is January 11.

January's book is The School For Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan. February's book is Collective Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer.

Please reach out to [email protected] or visit the page below for more information

Book Club
Welcome to the VPNA book club. We are a once-a-month group that meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month. Our next meeting is January 11. Januaryā€™s book is The School For Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan. Februaryā€™s book is Collective Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer. The meeting will

You can opt-in to future communication by managing your email preferences on https://www.vickeryplace.com


Run Club

Neighbors, let's kick off the New Year on a healthy note! Join the Vickery Place Run Club! Ready to make 2023 your healthiest year yet? Lace up your sneakers and meet us at the Vickery Place Run Club. More info at the link below.

Stepping into Fitness & Community with Ross Goldberg
Hello Vickery Place Neighbors, Iā€™m Ross Goldberg, your fellow resident at 5425 Belmont Ave since 2013, and a proud single dad to an 11-year-old middle schooler. Iā€™m also a former marathon runner whoā€™s recently found his way back to the track. Iā€™m out seven days a week with my 19-month-old

Winter Freeze Preparations


Monthly Crime Stats

As a community, we can take proactive measures to reduce the risk of vehicle theft and enhance the safety of our neighborhood. Here are some simple yet effective tips to help protect our vehicles:

  1. Lock It Up:
    Always lock your vehicle doors and windows, even if you're just running a quick errand. This simple habit is the first line of defense against theft.
  2. Secure Valuables:
    Avoid leaving valuable items in plain sight. Stow away electronics, bags, and other valuables in the trunk or take them inside your home.
  3. Well-Lit Areas:
    Ensure that your property and the surrounding streets are well-lit. Adequate lighting deters thieves and makes it easier for neighbors to notice suspicious activity.
  4. Install Security Cameras:
    Consider installing security cameras on your property, especially near driveways and parking spaces. Visible cameras act as a deterrent, and they can provide valuable evidence if an incident occurs.
  5. Report Suspicious Activity:
    If you notice anything out of the ordinary, report it to local law enforcement immediately. Timely reporting increases the chances of preventing criminal activity.

Short Term Rental Update 

From the Office of Paul Ridley, District 14 Bi-Weekly Newsletter - Dec. 19, 2023:

As many of you know, short term rentals wereā€Æbanned in single family residential neighborhoods in June 2023. STRs can still exist in multi-family complexes of 20 units or more, not to exceed 5% of units. The City allowed a six-month window before enforcement of the ordinance. As expected, the STR industry filed suit against the City.ā€ÆCity Attorney Tammy Palomino has issued this statement: 

 On June 14, 2023, the City of Dallas enacted two ordinances to regulate the use of property as a short-term rental (STR), with enforcement scheduled to begin on December 14, 2023. On October 2, 2023, a group representing STR operators filed a lawsuit challenging the ordinances and sought a temporary injunction to prevent the city from enforcing the ordinances. A hearing on the temporary injunction was held on December 1, 2023.ā€Æ On December 6, 2023, the court entered a temporary injunction prohibiting enforcement of the two STR ordinances. The City is considering its options regarding appeal of the temporary injunction. In the meantime, the City will continue enforcement of its existing ordinances governing minimum property standards, disturbing noises, and private nuisances.ā€Æ 

 If you know of an STR violating laws or ordinances or creating a nuisance, please report it to 911 or 311. It is important that you give specific details when reporting these issues. The collection of this data is very important.  


Single Family Zoning Impact

Neighbor Submission:

Dallas is exploring the impact of allowing duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes on land presently zoned for a single home.  This potential could have a huge impact on Vickery Place, and I would like to see this posted for all neighbors to read and make their own determination.

In Dallas, the Argument Over Single-Family Zoning Heats Up
Dallas is exploring the impact of allowing duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes on land presently zoned for a single home. Some would rather not have the discussion at all.
Hereā€™s Where Your Dallas City Council Member Stands on Minimum Lot Size Reduction
Reducing Dallasā€™ minimum lot size requirements to allow for greater residential density is far from being a done deal.

Dallas History Conference

Calling all history buffs! Or anyone who wants to learn more about the history of Big D. The 25th Annual Legacies Dallas History Conference will take place on Saturday January 27th , 8am - 12:30pm, at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library downtown. Always interesting, unfiltered, slices in time, in our Cityā€™s past!

Conference Presentations:

  • The New Jerusalem Becomes Part of Dallas: Oak Cliff Is Annexed by Dallas by Rene Schmidt
  •  The Aldredge House: A Genuine Landmark in Dallas by Greg Johnston
  • The Stoneleigh Hotel at 100 by Palmer Bradshaw
  • The Fascinating Family Tree of St. Markā€™s School of Texas by Bud Brooks

Special Feature:

  • Preserving Dallasā€™s Black Cultural Heritage: The Black Academy of Arts and Letters by Morgan Gieringer, Head of Special Collections, University of North Texas Library Interviewing Curtis King, Founder, the Black Academy of Arts and Letters

Tickets:

Morning refreshments will be included in the registration fee of $40. Patrons ($125) will be invited to a reception with the speakers at the Stoneleigh Hotel on Thursday, January 25, 2024 from 6-7:30 PM.

For tickets and more information, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/25th-annual-legacies-dallas-history-conference-tickets-756301858217

25th Annual Legacies Dallas History Conference
MILESTONES

Friends of Glencoe Park

Friends of Glencoe Park is a group of citizens with a shared interest in the stewardship of Glencoe Park. The Friends group brings forth a voice of the community that is not bound by the municipal process ā€“ pushing forward issues that may not be possible from within Dallas Parks and Recreation. It does, however, partner with Dallas Parks and Recreation to beautify the area
and help the park serve the community through projects, special events, donations and volunteer hours. They are just getting started. If you have an interest in getting involved, please fill out this form

Friends of Glencoe Park Vision Statement

The vision of Friends of Glencoe Park is to create a thriving neighborhood park that is the heart of our community, a cherished space that brings joy, well-bring, and unity to all who visit.  We imagine a place where families gather for picnics, children explore nature, and friends engage in recreational activities.  Our park will be a beacon of sustainability, featuring lush greens spaces, native flora, and wildlife habitats, nurturing a strong connection to the natural world with eco-
friendly landscaping and wildlife-friendly design.  We envision a park where arts and culture thrive, offering a stage for a local talent and inspiring creativity. With strong community engagement and partnerships, we aspire to continuously improve, making our park a model of innovation, accessibility, and inclusivity, so it remains a beloved destination for generations to come.
Join us in the protection, development and community of Glencoe Park.


Christmas Tree Drop-Off

If you missed bulk pick-up this month, you can take your Christmas Tree's to Bonton Farms Goats. Information below.


Kroger Community Rewards

During the Q4 period of 2023 we only had 23 households signed up for our Kroger Community Rewards. With nearly 1200 homes in Vickery Place, we can fund events like this month's donations to local Pantries with no effort every time you get groceries! If you shop at Kroger, please take the time to sign up below and a portion of your purchases go to supporting local schools, charity drives, and neighborhood events.

When you do your grocery shopping at Kroger, donā€™t forget there is an easy way to also support Vickery Place Neighborhood Association. VPNA is a registered charity with the Kroger Community Rewards Program. A few simple steps will help raise funds to support more neighborhood activities. https://www.kroger.com/account/communityrewards/

To Connect With Kroger Community Rewards:

ā€¢ Sign into your Kroger Rewards digital account (or easily set one up if you do not already have an account).

ā€¢ Select ā€œMy Accountā€.

ā€¢ Scroll down to the ā€˜Community Rewardsā€™ section of your account page.

ā€¢ Select ā€˜Enroll Nowā€™ or ā€˜Editā€™.

ā€¢ Enter the name of the organization you wish to support.

ā€¢ Select ā€˜Vickery Place Neighborhood Associationā€™ and click on ā€˜Saveā€™.

Any transactions moving forward using the card number associated with your Kroger digital account will be applied to the Community Rewards program. It takes about 10 days for the Community Rewards totals to begin displaying on your receipt. Vickery Place NA gets quarterly rewards paymentsā€”last quarter we received $44.22. The more neighbors who shop with Kroger and connect their digital account with Vickery Place, the more funds our organization will earn! Thank You!


Let us know what you think of the Newsletter and if there is anything we missed in the comments under this post on the website!