College Hill Neighborhood Association was officially started back in 1984, making it perhaps the oldest neighborhood association in the City.  As recalled by its first president Pat Sullivan (then Zesk), a local attorney and mother of two, the group was motivated by several specific concerns at the time…overcrowded and noisy student rentals, a dangerous and unsightly park on Brown Street, the proliferation of Thayer Street liquor licenses…as well as a more general desire to simply improve the quality of life on College Hill.  Among some of the earliest board members were state representative Fred Lippitt, city councilman Mac Farmer, Gus Anthony, Judy Benedict, Jaffa Davies and Mary Moore. The early organizers were quite thorough and hands-on during those first days.  Pat remembers the group going to every house armed with questionnaires to insure that they identified and addressed all the most pressing concerns of the neighborhood. Jaffa recalls loading her kids’ wagons with leaflets and distributing them door-to-door.  “It’s gratifying to see that the organization continues to fight the good fight on behalf of the residents of this wonderful area of the City.”

Some of the many activities in which CHNA has been involved recently include:

• Comprehensive Plan:  CHNA is participating actively in the preparation of the city's updated Comprehensive Plan, which includes the recent College Hill/Wayland/Fox Point and Waterfront planning charrettes.
• Zoning variances:   CHNA has opposed applications for zoning variances in the Thayer Street commercial area, especially insofar as these applications will likely serve as predecessors to subsequent additional liquor license applications. CHNA has also supported efforts by West Broadway Neighborhood Association to oppose selected zoning applications on the west side.
• Liquor license applications:   CHNA has opposed applications for liquor license applications in the saturated Thayer Street commercial area, especially insofar as those applications seek permission for 2:00 a.m. closings.
• Graffiti:  CHNA's anti-graffiti task force has worked with the city and a variety of area schools, other groups, and individuals to provide education about graffiti prevention and removal and to assist with graffiti removal. Please see our Updates and News page for more information.
• Parking task force:  CHNA is participating in the ongoing task force that seeks to improve parking and traffic problems on College Hill. Please see our Updates and News page for more information.
• Overnight on-street parking:  In November 2007, CHNA sponsored a community forum on the subject of overnight on-street parking. A pilot program is operating in several discrete areas of the city.
• Historic building demolition working group:  CHNA participated in the citywide working group for development of an updated policy for demolition of historic structures. As a result, demolition protections for some historic structures have been improved. Additional proceedings by the city on this issue are anticipated, which should result in greater demolition protections for a broader population of historic structures.
• Historic building demolition:  CHNA joined West Broadway Neighborhood Association in bringing court actions, one successful and one unsuccessful, to prevent the demolition of the historic downtown police and fire building.
• Waterfront preservation:  CHNA has assisted Fox Point Neighborhood Association and Friends of India Point Park in their efforts to save the former Shooters property on the waterfront for public use and to preserve and optimize the waterfront generally.
• Institutional development:  CHNA monitors the everpresent tax-exempt higher education institution expansion and intensification issues, which most often involve Brown University and RISD.

Many of these projects will continue through 2008 and into 2009.  If you would like to help us with one or more of these issues, or if you would like us to help with an issue of interest to you, please let us know.  Your participation and support are always greatly appreciated!