Below is an article by Jamie Dronyk, AIA, LEED AP. She is the new Director of Info and PR of the AIA San Joaquin. Her first major undertaking in that office was revamping the chapters quarterly newsletter. The newsletter is meant to keep the chapter members and general public up to date with what is happening in the chapter. The printed copies have been mailed out and will available at local architecture firms. You can also download the PDF. The article below by Jamie was pulled from the newsletter to give you a feel for the content.
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The Belmont Merchant’s Association Steps up to the Plate to Make Their Mark

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There are some new kids in town; they call themselves the Belmont Merchant’s Association (BMA).

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In March of 2009, a group of property owners along the Belmont corridor between Freeway 41 and Chestnut Avenue came together to form the association in an effort to implement a revitalization of the area and take back their community.

“I’ve been on this street for 40 years; I’ve seen the good times and the bad and I plan to stay around until the job is finished and things are set right” commented Roger Hanke, President of the Association.

Last December, the BMA, with the support of Triangle Associates, City Councilman Henry T. Perea, and the Fresno Redevelopment Agency, invited an assortment of community members and leaders to a roundtable discussion in which ideas to transform and improve the corridor were exchanged.

Landscape Architect Terry Broussard presented a conceptual plan envisioning how the corridor might be developed into three themed districts, all of which incorporate mixed use, open space, and pedestrian friendly development.

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I had the fortunate opportunity to be invited by the BMA to speak at one of their monthly meetings. I focused on ways in which they can utilize design and planning principles to eliminate misperceptions that are in and of themselves causing a violent cycle of increased real and perceived crime.

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In a city as large as Fresno has become, it is incumbent upon smaller communities to do their part to maintain their own relevance in our growing metropolis. The key to success is knowing that you don’t have to do it alone. I invite you to call upon local design professionals and together we can make Fresno relevant one community at a time.