22. Troy Gardens
Neighborhood Spotlight

The Troy Gardens co-housing community is a colorful group of residential units clustered on one side of land owned by the Madison Area Community Land Trust (MACLT). This award-winning community has 30 condominium homes and strong ties among residents. Troy Gardens also includes 26 acres of protected open land used for community gardens, a CSA farm, prairie restoration and a wildlife habitat. The Northside Planning Council led the 10-yar community effort to preserve and plan the Troy Gardens project.

With the goal of creating conservation-based, affordable owner-occupied housing, the Troy Gardens community emerged in 2006 as buildings were completed and residents moved in. Twenty of the 30 units were sold to households earning at or below 80 percent of the area’s median income. These units will remain affordable because of restrictions on the amount of profit allowed upon resale. The remaining 10 units were sold at market rates.

Co-housing is a concept born in Denmark and spread to other countries. Residents actively participate in their specially-designed neighborhoods and share some common space (Troy Gardens hopes to start construction on a Common House in fall 2009). Co-housers manage their communities themselves.

Resident Patricia Calchina vibrantly captured this concept. “The result of our coming together has been wonderful, a group of people who want to live in community, live close to the land and in an ecologically sound way. As a result, I think we all try really hard to be good neighbors,” she said.

AARP and the National Home Builders Association agreed with this assessment. In December 2007, the two organizations honored MACLT with their Livable Communities Award for the Troy Gardens development.

Troy Gardens residents walk the talk of “living community.” Dozens of them gathered recently for a potluck, sharing a meal and conversation, and strengthening their neighborhood connections.
David Marshall expressed his own thoughts about his neighborhood. “Our community continues to evolve over time. Overall it’s a wonderful example of co-housing. We have residents from Hungary, Japan, Ivory Coast, Eritrea. All age groups are represented. It’s quite unique for Madison,” he said.

Calchina added, “For me, I feel like this place brings out the best in me. I am constantly inspired by my neighbors and touched by what lovely people they are. Additionally, I feel like it is all a learning experience. Sometimes it stretches me, and I like that.”

Contact David Marshal, Troy Gardens Community Association President, by phone at 240-0735.

~ By Mary Schumacher, The Northside News
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23. Vera Court
Mission: Encourage residents to invest in their own neighborhood and community
2007 Accomplishments: Collaboration with Troy Gardens to organize Savor the Summer Festival
2008 Goals & Concerns: Get more people informed about the neighborhood; Involve and engage people in their community by using the community center and having better access to the landlord about concerns; Encourage people to be more connected to the broader Northside. Publish a newsletter.
Contact: Benito Juarez Olivas, President, 906-2143, ancientlandmark@ gmail.com
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24. Vera Court Neighborhood Center
Mission: Collaborate with the Vera Court community to provide programming for children, families, adults and seniors
2007 Accomplishments: Expanded programs for Hispanic residents of the community and cooperative tutoring programs with local schools
2008 Goals & Concerns: Increased outreach to the greater Vera Court community and expansion of programming for adults and seniors
Contact: Tom Solyst, Executive Director, 246-8372, veracourt@yahoo.com
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25. Woodland Park
About: Residents from the Woodlands and Woodland Park Apartments reformed their association in 2006. Both properties were puchased by a new owners and landlords who were committed to improving both neighborhoods for residents.
Contact: If you are interested in getting involved, contact NPC at 661-0060.
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26. Woodlands
About: Residents from the Woodlands and Woodland Park Apartments reformed their association in 2006. Both properties were puchased by a new owners and landlords who were committed to improving both neighborhoods for residents.
Contact: If you are interested in getting involved, contact NPC at 661-0060.
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25. Whitetail Ridge
About: Whitetail Ridge organized in 1998, and the association will be focusing this year on developing more community leadership and involvement as a way to be successful in the present and sustainable into the future. The association monitors key land use projects, including the Cherokee Park, Inc. development that borders the northern edge of the neighborhood and the open space to the south. The group is currently working to identify key concerns to build momentum for future action.
Contact: Shelley Legried, President, 242-0139
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Northside Community Organizations

Lakeview Lutheran Church
Mission: Lakeview is a Christian church with the mission of making God's universal love for the world known through words and deeds accomplished through regular worship and continuous outreach efforts.
2007 Accomplishments: Worshiped weekly; Traveled to Biloxi for Hurricane Relief; Raised over $10,000 for Madison CROP walk; Sent 16 youth on summer mission trip and 24 adults on New York City retreat; Built Habitat for Humanity homes; Served 250 at free Thanksgiving meal; Operated a county food pantry; Passed a resolution to affirm/bless same-gender unions
2008 Goals: Increase the amount of outreach ministry that we can offer the community and the world; Increase staff; Develope greater involvement in the neighborhood; Offer more youth/family programs; Continue dynamic cooperate worship; Be hospitable to all
Contact: Dean Kirst, Pastor, 244-6181, pastorlkview@charterinternet.com

Northside Business Association
Mission: Promote the economic development on the Northside and enhance the quality of life for its businesses and residents.
2007 Accomplishments: Recruited 10 new member businesses; Awarded a scholarship to an East High School graduate; Raised over $1,000 for Northside food pantries with Breakfast with Santa event; Supported Northside events with promotions and volunteers
2008 Goals: Continue to encourage, promote and support the sustainable growth and development of existing and new businesses on the Northside
Contact: Rylee Wedekind, 512.1003, rwedekind@5ninesdata.com

East Attendance Area PTO Coalition
Mission: Ensure accessible and equitable education for students attending Madison Public Schools
2007 Accomplishments: Sponsored community-building forum with School Board Members/Schools Campaign; Presented proposed Equity Policy to Board of Education
2008 Goals: Ensuring equity; Recruiting more members that are representative of our student population
Contact: Wendy Sauve, 244-3125, gwzsauve@aol.com

North/Eastside Senior Coalition (NESCO)
Mission: Enhance the quality of life for all senior adults by providing programs, advocacy and resources to assist them to remain independent, active and influential in the community
2007 Accomplishments: Increased funding through funders and grants for caregiver and Cultural Diversity programs; Awarded reaccreditation from Wisconsin Association of Senior Centers
2008 Goals: Increase and diversify participants; Improve financial stability; Provide necessary resources for quality services and programs; Promote collaborative partnerships
Contact: Cheryl Batterman, Executive Director, 243-5252, cbatterman@nescoinc.org or visit

Friends of Troy Gardens
Mission: Troy Gardens is a 26-acre green space along the 500 block of Troy Drive. Friends of Troy Gardens (FTG) manages this land and runs several programs including an organic Community Supported Agriculture Farm, the largest Community Gardens in Madison and natural areas stewarded mainly by community volunteers. FTG offers educational programs for people of all ages, most notably through the Troy Kids' Garden the Farm & Field Youth Training Program, and a college internship program. Visit www.troygardens.org.
Contact: Bob Gragson, Executive Director, 240-0409, director@troygardens.org

Friends of Cherokee Marsh and Upper Yahara Watershed
Mission: Protect, preserve, and restore the beauty, value, and health of the Cherokee Marsh and Upper Yahara river watershed.
2007 Accomplishments: Helped secure largest City land purchase since 1960s; Grew to over 40 members since WI incorporation in July 2007 while also educating public
2008 Goals: Intensify public education/outreach and advocacy for largest wetland area in Dane County; Expand relationships/collaboration; Grow organization; Incorporate at federal level.
Contact: FOCM Secretary, 241-5825, Info@CherokeeMarsh.org or visit www.cherokemarsh.org

Circle of Friends
Mission: Support the WPCRC so it continues to serve the community
2007 Accomplishments: Raised funds and public support for a pool at the WPCRC through a golf outing, walk with over 300 registered and cookie sales on election day.
2008 Goals: Continue to raise funds and public support for the pool at Warner Park. A golf outing is scheduled for June 4 and the walk for August 23
Contact: Dorothy Borchardt, President, 249-7202, dborchardt1@charter.net

Northside Community Council
This organization was formed in 1968 residents to get together to promote issues and activities on the North side. Activities included the Family Fun Fest on July 4 and an Easter Egg Hunt. With funds raised from the Family Fun Fest and now the Bingo tent at Rhythm and Booms, the committee has been able to donated to schools, community centers, scouts and other group more than $70,000. Today, the members of the group still hold the Easter Egg Hunt, a bike parade/pinata party and the bingo tent at Rhythm and Booms, and continue to donate to donate to organizations. This is a small group and would appreciate more volunteers. For more information, please call Sue Morrison at 241-1986.

Friends of Lake View Hill Park
Mission: Lake Lake View Hill County Park a destination for education, ecological restoration, volunteer activities, peace and beauty.
2007 Accomplishments: Madison placed Lake View Hill County Park in conservancy zoning, which protects the park from incompatible land use. Dane County committed the resources for a Master Plan in 2008, including archaeological and historical studies
2008 Goals: Finalize a formal agreement with Dane County to provide liability coverage for volunteers while they are working in the park and complete the Master Plan. Restoration goals are to eliminate the black locust on the slope north of the parking lot and continue to control invasives to increase the diversity of native species.
Contact: Nelson Zane Eisman, President, 244-2055, neisman@yahoo.com

Dane County Timebank
Mission: Promote self-reliance and community interdependence through time dollar exchange
2007 Accomplishments: Increased Dane County TImebank membership to 660 individual members, 53 organizational members; Hosted 2007 International Timebanks Cinference attended by over 300 people from 13 countries
2008 Goals: Promote broader use of Timebank services by members; Encourage organizations to share their resources using timedollars; Have lots more fun bringing people together in stronger communities.
Contact: Stephanie Rearick or Gary Messinger, 663-0400, info@danecountytimebank.org

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