The Neighborhood
The Hillcrest neighborhood's limits were defined by the City
when development occurred. Most of the
original homes south of 9th Street were built in the early half of the
1950s with the exception of the historical Fuller House at 1005 Sunset Drive
(1863). Late in the '50s, the
neighborhood north of 9th developed. Many homes in this area were occupied by
health professionals, so many, in fact,
that the area was referred to as “Pill Hill.”
The Evan and Roger Walter house at 700 California dates to 1861, before
statehood, and the most recent home construction occurred in 2010 (Sabatini
home at 1512 8th Street Terrace).
Our neighborhood's
historical claim to fame includes the Oregon Trail, which curved north
from Mount Oread and followed the ridge that is now Sunset and Hilltop Drives,
turning west at approximately Yale Street.
Another historical feature included a huge windmill, the Wilder and Palm
Grist Mill, atop the hill just south of 9th and west of Avalon
Road. Erected in 1863-64, it burned
around 1905, but photographs are numerous to remind us of the area, which
included Emery Lake, drained in the early 1960s to make way for West Hills
Apartments. This was near the time of
Hillcrest School's construction as the Lawrence community tripled in population
after World War II. The water tower and
two-acre park around it at Sunset and Stratford dates from 1953. Originally built for supplying water to west
Lawrence, it now also serves as a communications tower for the Lawrence Police
Department.
 | |
| Circa 1890s photograph of the old Dutch windmill, which stood near 9th & Emery Streets. Courtesy: kansasmemory.org | . |
In the 1950s, many staff and faculty of the University of
Kansas chose the Hillcrest neighborhood in which to live because of its
proximity to campus and the excellent reputation of Hillcrest Elementary School. Now it can be described as a moderately old
neighborhood, but is still tied to the University by the many students who
occupy rental homes. Apartments have
added to the student composition, but the neighborhood is also home to many young families who wanted their children to attend Hillcrest School. Residents employed as KU faculty and staff appreciate the proximity to campus, and many retired and elderly residents remain in the neighborhood they love. The
Hillcrest Neighborhood, like the City of Lawrence, continues to evolve, but
good neighbors will always live here.
The Association
The Hillcrest Neighborhood Association has had several
lives....sometimes active, sometimes inactive.
Activity seems to hover around specific issues; for instance, the
neighborhood residents united in the 1950s to join with the City of Lawrence,
the Old West Lawrence neighborhood and the Pinckney neighborhood around a
zoning issue as developers attempted to build high density properties along 7th
Street, which was originally designated commercial prior to the turnpike
arriving in Lawrence.
A proposal to widen 9th Street to four lanes brought the
neighborhood together again in the 1980s.
After the City decided to at least postpone that project, the
Association gradually fell into a coma, then rallied for a flashing crossing
light at Sunset and 9th Street for children walking to Hillcrest
Elementary School. An appeal for the
crosswalk to the City of Lawrence from concerned citizens and the HNA resulted
in that safety improvement being made, and again, the Association rested.
In the spring of 2010, budget constraints forced the Board
of Education to consider closing several elementary schools; a public outcry
dubbed “S.O.S.--Save Our Schools” again united not only our neighborhood but many
other neighborhoods with elementary schools at their hearts. The S.O.S campaign was moderately
successful. Two schools were
closed: Wakarusa and East Heights.
Several residents of the Hillcrest neighborhood recognized
the opportunity to take advantage of the enthusiasm generated by the S.O.S.
movement, and the most recent version of the Hillcrest Neighborhood Association
was born. These neighbors also
acknowledged the strong possibility for action required in the future to
protect Hillcrest Elementary School, and this scenario came to pass in the
spring of 2012, when specific schools in east and central Lawrence, including
Hillcrest, were targeted for closure or consolidation. With the support of the neighborhood
association as well as other logistical and financial solutions, no
neighborhood schools were closed.
Some of the accomplishments of the Hillcrest Neighborhood
Association since 2010 include drafting and approving bylaws, collecting email
addresses of 94% of neighborhood residents; reestablishing active membership in
the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods (LAN); hosting several social events
(potlucks); installing a “Welcome” boulder and landscaping at 9th and Highland;
organizing nine neighborhood sections with section leaders therein; offering a
helping hands program, a member-initiated projects process, and a storm shelter
program. Neighbors have also cleaned up
the 9th Street sidewalk, and, most recently, organized the “Green Ribbon”
movement to show support for the non-closure of Hillcrest School. These
accomplishments have been helped by the generosity of our neighbors through
donations of time and money. Thank you!
 |
| Neighborhood Beautification Project at 9th & Highland - Fall 2012 |
No comments:
Post a Comment