Downtown Neighborhood Association meets, shares ideas in Merced

The Downtown Neighborhood Association held a kickoff event last week to start to talk about ideas for revitalizing Merced’s historic city blocks.

More than 10,000 live within the boundaries marked by the group, according to association member Ryan Heller, which include Bear Creek on the north and west sides, 16th Street on the south and Glen Avenue on the east.

Within those boundaries, Merced offers some historic Victorian-style homes with manicured lawns, as well as more modern but equally as nice homes. But, as the group sees it, some of the properties are eyesores.

Other neighborhood revitalization efforts have come and gone, members said, but this time it feels different. Members of the group say momentum is building behind them. “We seem to have hit our stride,” Heller, 25, said.

The association’s initial plans are what it’s dubbed the “ABCs” – advocacy, beautification and community engagement. The gathering on Friday was a time for people with shared hopes for the downtown to meet one another.

“We’re now trying to make sure everyone is aware of our purpose,” said Sharlee Fragulia, 39, another member.

Ideally, for the group, others will jump on the bandwagon. Fragulia, who has lived on 20th Street for 16 years, said the effort will need buy-in from homeowners, renters and business owners to make it work. UC Merced’s staff and students could also help.

She said the group is floating an idea for signage that would mark the individual blocks and give them a historic label, which could help inspire civic pride and maybe even raise property values.

The neighborhood has potential, according to Gloria Conlin, who has lived on 21st Street for more than 40 years. She should know, the 72-year-old moved there because the old neighborhood appealed to her. “It was really charming,” the 72-year-old said.

By all accounts, some properties in the area have deteriorated. The group said some owners of homes or apartment complexes haven’t kept up their properties like they should. They say out-of-town owners are largely at fault.

Rundown or unkept yards and buildings lend to the perception that downtown is unsafe, the group argues.

To that end, members say they hope to work with property owners to try to spruce up their properties. For those who continue to be absentee or uncooperative, the group hopes Merced code enforcement officers can give them a push.

Also at the get-together was Oscar Torres, 40, who lives on 20th Street and co-owns J&R Tacos on Main Street. As a business owner, he perhaps has even more at stake in a revitalized downtown than other residents living there.

“I think it’s a great idea that a group of neighbors are trying to improve the (neighborhood),” he said.

It’s no secret that Main Street has its problems with panhandling.

Torres said business owners are looking at ways to get services or shelter for those homeless who spend time in downtown. “I wish we could do something for these people, but it’s a big problem (to solve),”

Councilman Mike Murphy was one of a handful of elected officials who attended the gathering. He also has office space on Canal Street, within the identified boundaries. He said the council could help the group out by lending support where they can, and placing a focus on code enforcement efforts.

“I think it’s a matter of enforcing the laws we have on the books,” he said.

DNA has a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DNAMerced.

This story was originally published May 4, 2015 at 12:57 PM with the headline "Downtown Neighborhood Association meets, shares ideas in Merced."