A new sworn-in president setting a fresh direction may sound familiar in Washington D.C., but the theme is being echoed, albeit on a smaller scale, in Fort Greene.
Thus, the Fort Greene Association’s (FGA) newly inaugurated president, Paul Palazzo, held court last week with board members to set a new agenda for one of the community’s oldest civic organizations that boasts upward of a thousand members.
“This coming year we will focus on bridging the gap that separates Fort Greene both metaphorically and physically, and work to engage the Fort Greeners that live on the other side of the park,” said Palazzo.
Palazzo said the FGA has already reached out to tenant association presidents at several of the public housing complexes in the area, and pointed out that perception sometimes trumps reality.
The perception abounds of a class and race difference on the two sides of Fort Greene Park, but the reality is there are a mix on both sides of the park and everybody has to work together, he said.
“I want to see more opportunity for (home) ownership in Fort Greene, but even if you’re a renter we want to encourage a sense of the neighborhood because that’s what distinguishes us from all other neighborhoods – a sense of community and ownership,” said Palazzo.
“That is the key element we will be fostering and nurturing this year,” he added.
Palazzo said this FGA philosophy also extends to new residents in the high rises that the FGA has long fought against building, but now dot the Fort Greene landscape.
“We won’t segregate and have prejudice of the people in those buildings, and we want to integrate and energize those residents to become active members of Fort Greene,” he said.
Also high on the FGA agenda is working with local schools to get improved services, and ensuring they have a larger voice with the organization.
The FGA can also make sure the great work schools do gets out in the public domain, he said.
On the business side, Palazzo noted the FGA supported the recent formation of the Central Fulton Street Business Improvement District, and is working with the recently formed Merchants Society of Dekalb Avenue to help promote and support the strip.
For example, Myrtle Street merchants will be doing an inauguration day event that the FGA is helping to coordinate, he said.
Palazzo said the FGA membership is also being polled for suggestions on what are the retail needs and how to attract those kinds of merchants to the neighborhood.
Finally, Palazzo said the organization is always seeking new members and values their input.
To become a member log onto www.historicfortgreene.org.
