Village Seven residents roll up sleeves to improve area

Steve Ballard and Art McDonnell didn’t like the direction the Village Seven neighborhood was going and decided to get involved.

They wanted dues collected and covenants enforced to ensure that the neighborhood with the whimsical street names near Academy Boulevard and Austin Bluffs Parkway lived up to its carefree image.

But they didn’t want to become known as “covenant Nazis” who crack down on the rules residents agree to live by when they buy in covenant-protected areas.

So Ballard had an idea. Instead of forcing people to cut their grass, kill weeds, fix fences and paint their homes, the board would help.

The “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” program was born.

“We knew some members of our neighborhood are on fixed incomes,” McDonnell said. “They may not be able to afford certain improvements. Or they may be disabled. Or they simply don’t know how to do it themselves.”

Instead of writing people up and threatening to fine them if the repairs are not made, Ballard, McDonnell and a couple of other board members volunteered to do the work.

“In the past few months, we have repaired two fences, mowed and weeded yards, done general cleanup in yards and even picked up and delivered mulch for a homeowner,” Mc-Donnell said.

Ballard said it shows residents the HOA board members aren’t simply power-tripping control freaks.

“When we fix a fence, it helps the homeowner and it helps the neighborhood,” Ballard said. “That’s our only goal. Help the neighborhood and protect our property values.”

The two men were strangers until 2005 when Ballard moved into Village Seven, and McDonnell returned after 12 years on Air Force assignments.

Both were concerned by what they found.

“When I bought my house in 1988, Village Seven was a more affluent community,” McDonnell said. “Now, it’s a working-class community.”

There’s nothing wrong with that, he said. It’s a fact that the neighborhood has evolved as it aged. He just doesn’t think the village should show so many wrinkles and scars.

For example, the five neighborhood parks and five miles of greenbelt trails were deteriorating and there was no money for repairs.

A tragedy — the arson deaths of three children — was the catalyst that inspired board members to roll up their sleeves and get busy.

“Homeowner Hazel Cutler came to the board with an idea to fix up a park and dedicate it to the three children,” Ballard said. “We dropped our jaws and jumped all over the idea.”

It took six months, but a park behind the burned-out Nicholls house on Undimmed Circle was painted and landscaped and a memorial erected in honor of the victims: Jay, Sophia and Sierra Nicholls.

The effort energized the board and now it is reaching out aggressively, advertising in newsletters to find village residents they can help.

“We’re proud of our work,” Ballard said. “It feels good. And I think people see we’re not just bad guys who issue fines. We want to lead our neighborhood in new, rewarding areas.”

Tell me about your neighborhood: 636-0193 or bill.vogrin@gazette.com