Apparently a letter was recently sent to 190 families in the area around St. Francis Cabrini Hospital about a public meeting being held to discuss possible expansion into area parks or Smart Growth as the Roy administration terms it.We have not received a copy of the letter sent to the residents nor an official notification of when this public meeting will be held. An anonymous online post says this about when it will happen...
Anonymous said...
The meeting regarding Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital proposal to purchase the Alexandria Youth Complex ballparks at Texas and Masonic is at 6:30 pm, Thursday, May 17 in the Community Meeting Room at the Public Safety Complex, 1000 Bolton Avenue.
Read the City of Alexandria news media release here and feel free to comment about the discussion and possible expansion in this blog.
Here are some excerpts from the media release sent Sunday.
"Despite rumors, quickly proliferated in our modern internet age, the Administration has not made a decision on this proposal. The purpose of calling this meeting is to directly involve neighbors in the decision-making process, one the Administration would never arrogate unto itself given the import of recreation and land use."
"Transparency and community planning are founded on public meetings. To dismiss any partnering for expansion without knowing the plans violates Smart Growth principles just as much as violating its admonition to create and properly maintain recreation space. Smart Growth after all is about growth through proper preservations and use of existing space, but about growth nonetheless."
"The proposed neighborhood meeting topics for participants include sustainable living (LEED certification advantages, such as reduced energy costs), potential neighborhood design guidelines, park demand, needs, and uses, streetscape (landscaping), and facility planning. "
From the St. Francis Cabrini website:
About us
CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital is a 265-bed facility located in Alexandria, Louisiana. Employing approximately 1,400 Associates, and with a staff of nearly 320 physicians, CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital offers a comprehensive array of services providing the highest quality patient care in a compassionate setting.
And the hospitals board of directors.
Comments welcome.
16 comments:
How myopic. Roy seems to think that only those who live adjacent to the ball fields are affected. Roy sounds ready to deprive the entire community of area which is now, and has traditionally always been devoted to recreational family oriented activity. The city response is another unfortunate example of Roy (and probably Lamar) enjoying hearing themselves talk. Cabrini can expand in 350 degrees without degrading our green space and quality of life.
Did Roy fool 76% of the voters with canned thoughts and empty promises?
One has to wonder how much more space does one need to operate a hospital. Is this a case of one-ups-man-ship since Rapides is now in the process of expanding? Holy crap!
I do believe there was a report complied not too long that stated the City had a shortage of green space and specifically park space.
We chose to have economic development outlawed as a public purpose when we voted for the expropriation amendment last year. Why does Roy and his crew, along with Cabrini believe they are above what the majority of Louisiana people voted for?
Cabrini can build a gargage on space at the old Salley building and put in a skywalk like Rapides - or they could build one somewhere on the same side as Masonic. Don't take our parks!
Boycott Cabrini until they take the proposal off the table - publicly. Better yet, how about in the interest of public safety since they are a magnet for sick people, some with contagious disease, don't we as citizens require that they move their operation to a less populated area.
I find it interesting that the meeting about ballparks (some used by Bolton High School) is at the same time and date as a meeting at Bolton fo parents to discuss the "digial academy". Is the plan to sell the ballparks without the input of Bolton parents? Isn't this the same neighborhood? Which meeting is Ms. Webb attending?
Isn't Cabrini already using and destroying the area around the ballpark by parking there. Have you ever tried to g to a gae or practice there? All the parking is taken by the hospital employees. You can forgt it if your child has a 5:00 game.
There seems to be a lot of "mis-information" circulating. I think I'll wait for the facts before making up my mind.
Great idea. Blame the administration for wanting citizen input. Ban a hospital that contributes hundreds of well-paying job and helps thousands of people get well every year. Do all of this without even hearing the proposal. In Alexandria, ignorance isn't just bliss. It's mandatory, and our media's little blog game only helps to perpetuate the ignorance and jealousy that cause us to stagnate while towns like Lafayette jump ahead.
I agree. All those dummies bitched about Three-Mile Island and Love Canal and the New Orleans levees. We've heard just about enough from you naysayers. Jacques and his full-time sycophant, Lamar, know what's best for Alexandria. Blossom, blossom, blossom, blossom, blossom.
Ever notice when there is some negative exposure it is always "the administration" but when it's positive it's always Wonderboy Roy?
What is so hard to understand about a hospital that wants to purchase public park property to the chagrin of the community? If they had the interest of the community at heart, this would not be a matter for discussion because it is a no-brainer. What is obvious is that a corporate entity that has deep pockets and driven by the quest for profit has it's eyes on what is yours too. Why, with a little planning could they not construct high-rise parking on their existing parking lots or have hired an architect with more foresight when they built the power plant adjacent to the south end to have contemplated their needs in a better manner. More than likely, they thought the fix was in to aquire the ball parks after the initial attempt was discovered and failed. Remember? They were trying to do that seruptisiously in the beginning. I am not absolving the city either. It is obvious that they have been encouraged to make this second attempt.
They may sell it to us as hospital parking but I assure you that the hospital will eventually build some expansion structure on that property and the folks that have lovely homes and yards accross the fence will suffer much more than they deserve. It's such a goddam betrayal.
Why or why oh why???? Cabrini has sheltered itself under the sisters of charity too long - Myron K used to be on the board - or at least the foundation. Tommy Antoon sits on the foundation. What is the Roy connection there? How many transition team members were from the hospital, the foundation?
The Mayor needs to stop being an attorney and become a Mayor. Ned fought this, why can't Jacques without a committee? This inquiry came under Ned's admin who refused discussion, why are we having it now?
Ok, if Cabrini wants more space they should make a good faith gesture that some big corporations make; build a similar park to replace it and do it before they make plans to take property that is already being used.
Hospitals are great to have, yes, no question about that. It's not a matter of not having enough space already for goodness sake. Look at Rapides which is already in the process of expanding. There is no shortage of hospital beds as I see it. Cabrini is seeking more space for doctors and parking, right? I think they need to go back to the drawing board and examine expansion possibilities on existing assets.
This is dedicated to Rod Noles, The Cabrini Gang, our illustrious leaders that were elected to protect citizen interest, and all others that detest green spaces;
"BIG YELLOW TAXI" by Joni Mitchell
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
They took all the trees
Put 'em in a tree museum
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Post a Comment