Two positive outcomes emerged from a special meeting of the Mayfair Civic Association June 24. Residents granted their approval for two new businesses on Frankford Avenue. And they also revived a dormant civic association in neighboring Wissinoming.
Mayfair Civic wasn’t due to meet until Sept. 15, but President Donny Smith called the emergency session to settle a zoning case regarding 6101–37 Frankford Ave., where the property owner wants to convert the former DeSimone Mitsubishi into two retail stores — Dollar Tree and Auto Zone.
Immediate neighbors, particularly those from the 6100 block of Hawthorne St., had many questions about the project, particularly its impact on vehicle traffic on their block. Problem was, their block technically is not within the boundaries of Mayfair Civic, so residents weren’t allowed to vote on the issue. According to its bylaws, the civic association’s territory ends at Frankford Avenue.
Nonetheless, more than a dozen Hawthorne Street residents attended the previous Mayfair meeting on May 19 to express their concerns, prompting the civic group to table a vote and facilitate negotiations between the property owner and his neighbors.
During that process, some of the neighbors decided to organize themselves into a new Wissinoming civic group. They contacted City Councilman Bobby Henon to help them with the process. Other civic organizations have served Wissinoming in the past, but not recently. Their first meeting is tentatively scheduled for July 30 at 7 p.m. at Lower Mayfair Playground, 6300 Hawthorne St.
In the meantime, the Hawthorne Street residents also reached a compromise with the commercial property owner on a few key issues. The owner and representatives for the proposed stores agreed not to open a Hawthorne Street entrance to the businesses, while keeping commercial signs off of Hawthorne.
The businesses also agreed to improve buffer fencing around the property and to stay on top of curbside maintenance, particularly after snowstorms. The businesses further agreed to install security cameras along the rear of the property and to adhere to the city code provisions regarding lighting.
The next regular meeting of the Mayfair Civic Association will be on Monday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. at Mayfair Community Center, 2990 Saint Vincent St. ••
