Neighborhood News

Check here to get the latest Neighborhood news such as new residents, new family additions, grandchildren, and any special announcement you want shared!!

Summer is here and as we all enjoy cookouts, long days and hot nights, remember to watch out for children while driving!!!! We are looking at several projects for the neighborhood. We are pricing new front entrance signs to replace the 28 year old ones. We have also set a completion date for the pond fill project by Sept 30,2008. Once again, we want to thank everyone for your patience!!

Outdoor water uses (including lawn watering by hand or sprinkler, washing cars, filling pools, etc.), are permitted one day per week for customers.

> Customers with odd-numbered addresses may use water outdoors on Saturdays. Example: 123 Main Street.

> Customers with even-numbered addresses may use water outdoors on Sundays. Example: 124 Main Street.

REMEMBER: Your watering day ends at midnight. Lawns only need one inch of water per week (rain included).

* Hand-held use of a watering container or hose (with spray nozzle attached) to water trees, shrubs or plant beds is allowed on any day in all parts of our service area.

* Use of drip irrigation or soaker hoses to water trees, shrubs or plant beds is permitted on any day in any part of our service system.

* Pressure washing a deck or outside of a house is allowed on any day across the service area.

* Commercial uses of water, except those restricted above, are still allowed. That would include commercial pressure washers, watering nurseries, commercial car washes, street washers, water use for a construction site, etc.

Cleanup day was a success!! We had several volunteers take down trees, fill the ruts and plant flowers in the flower beds. We have been able to restart the sprinkler system for Saturdays in compliance with city watering restrictions.

We want to thank Casey Williams for loaning us his services and equipment to help rebuild the drive to the ball field and repair eroding hills.

We are still working on the remainder of the placement of the dirt. We are going to rent necessary equipment to finish the project, everyone's patience has been most appreciated!!!

Please note we have had to send a couple of letters to homeowners reminding them to maintain their property in compliance with the neighborhood CCR's. These regulations help maintain the beauty and value of our neighborhood. Everyone appreciates the hard work of all our neighbors in keeping the Downs Grant beautiful and making it a great place to live!!!

We are in the process of getting estimates to replace the aging front entrance signs. Please check back for more information.

We have resumed the lawn service to keep the fields and front entrance cut and clean. The first major cut of the season took place and several dead trees were cut down and removed. We are still waiting for all the bids to come back for the silt pond grading, unfortunately it has been a slower process than we want, but it will get completed very soon!!! Thanks for all your patience.

Our neighborhood cleanup is scheduled for may 10th and we have had a positive response from our neighbors!!! We will be planting flowers in the entrance beds, cleaning up debris and clearing dead trees. We need all the help we can get.. Please mark it on your calendar!!

The pond project is in its final completion stages. All permits and necessary paperwork is complete, and we are in the process of finalizing quotes and setting up the time for the rough and final grading of the project. We will also be filling in the ruts caused by the trucks after the grading is done. Seeding will then be put down to finish the new field area. Check back here for dates and details!!!

The board has set a neighborhood clean up date for Saturday May 10th and rain date of May 17th. This is your opportunity to help beautify our community. We will be clearing branches and debris from the common area and repairing the playground. Also, we hope to have a large city dumpster set for 2-4 days so anyone in the neighborhood can use it to get rid of old lawn chairs, boxes, debris, etc. without having to haul it to the city landfill.

We want everyone to participate!!!! Ben Allison will be heading up the project, you can contact him at dgboard@issionline.com

The springtime is the most beautiful time of year in our neighborhood. Now is the time to remove the dead debris and cleanup our yards. A little grass seed and yard care goes a long way to making our entire community look great!!

You may have recently noticed a caravan of dump trucks riding down Wood End Lane. It was the clean fill dirt for the completion of the silt pond retention project. Thanks to the good work of Glen Kiger, he secured countless truckloads of clean fill dirt for FREE!!! Even the transportation was at no charge!!! We have enough dirt to complete the final phase of the pond project and plenty extra to fill sink holes and ruts throughout the commons area. This saved the neighborhood countless dollars. Thank you Glen!!! We also will be contacting our insurance to see about potential savings now that the liability of a pond is gone.

It is our commitment as a board to keep the neighborhood informed. We will keep this website current and encourage everyone to check in several times a month. This will keep everyone in the "loop" as to projects and upcoming events that affect you. We value your input!!!

The Downs Grant Board of Directors has set all of its meeting dates for 2008. All Board meetings are open to every homeowner and we encourage you participation!! Every meeting is held on the first Thursday of each month 7:00 pm at the South Charlotte County Library on Rea and Hwy 51. Please contact a board member if you plan to attend so we can get a larger meeting room if necessary.

Neighborhood Yard Sale!! On June 2nd 2007 the neighborhood will have a yard sale from 8 - 11am. There is a $5.00 permit fee per household that is participating. The DGHA will pay for advertising fees in the Charlotte Observer. For details, call Peter Brockman 704-231-4514

New gates have been installed at the entrance to the common areas. This insures security and safety to our common grounds. Please be aware that there is no parking in front of the gates.

The board is looking at new front entrance signs to improve the look to our neighborhood. Also, spring planting at the front entrance and island is about to start, thanks to all our volunteers for their hard work!

Azaleas and dogwoods are about to bloom, get your cameras ready, this is the most picturesque time of year in the Downs Grant. Please email you pictures to rromanoff@carolina.rr.com so we can share them with everyone!!

The fire department requires a clearance at all entrances in the event of an emergency. Please be aware of the yellow "no parking" zones now in effect in our neighborhood. These are here to keep you safe!!!