Neighbors Call for "Death of the Fourway"
CCC coordinates town hall meeting to jump start neighborhood renewal in west Abilene.
On Wednesday nights, churches typically host mid-week Bible studies or worship services in their buildings. This past Wednesday night, August 12, however, over 100 residents gathered at a local congregation to discuss neighborhood problems and to seek solutions together to address them. The neighbors gathered as part of the new city-wide Abilene Neighborhood Initiative announced Monday by Councilman Anthony Williams.
The neighborhood, known as the Alameda Addition but sometimes called the ‘Fourway’, has boundaries that include include U.S. Highway 83/84 to the north, South 7th Street to the south, Winters Freeway to the east, and Ruidosa Street to the west. Residents rallied by several neighbors, including Darrell Moore who said, “Let tonight be the death of the ‘Fourway’” as they reclaimed their neighborhood from the problems plaguing the area and the derogatory name and reputation the area holds.
Neighborhood residents met for two hours at New Haven Community Church, 650 Corsicana, where they encouraged each other to take responsibility for the neighborhood’s problems and to work together with the city, police department, churches, and local nonprofits to make a difference. Some neighbors praised the efforts of the Abilene Police Department while others requested increased patrols and faster response times. Issues discussed included trash, parking, loud music, crime, drugs, sand speeding.
“We need the neighbors to get to know one another and to watch out for each other and take care of each other,” said Alameda Addition resident Heloise Munson at the start of the group discussion. Others echoed her call for banding together and watching out for one another.
Youth from the neighborhood requested a crosswalk at South 7th Street and Corsicana. They cited this as a difficult intersection to cross between their homes and schools. The students gathered over 200 signatures in a petition requesting the crosswalk they presented at the meeting. Over 25 of the residents took the stage to provide their input and ideas.
Alameda Addition residents were joined by city officials including the city manager, Councilman Anthony Williams, APD chief Stan Standridge and other city staff. City officials, as part of the Abilene Neighborhood Initiative, were in attendance to gather neighborhood input on addressing issues in the area. Connecting Caring Communities, an organizer of the meeting and initiative partner, also participated. The town hall meeting was hosted by New Haven Community Church who also held a cookout before the meeting and provided childcare so parents could attend.
Read the Abilene Reporter News report on the meeting: City leaders, community meet to discuss neighborhoods
And watch the report from KRBC who also attended: Goodbye 4-Way?