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The
Homestead Civic League is a non-profit organization composed of
Homestead residents. Its active members strive to: enhance the
quality of life for all residents; foster a spirit of community;
further the interests of the area with respect to beautification,
recreation, sanitation, safety, and protection of property values;
inform residents of issues of neighborhood importance; provide
a forum for discussion of issues important to the residents; and
promote participation in public affairs by encouraging members
to register and vote in all local, state, and federal elections.
Any current resident of Homestead is
eligible for membership. Annual per-household dues are only $7.
To become a member contact
the Civic League president.
Ongoing
Civic League Activities
Meetings:
The Homestead Civic League meets every-other month (February,
April, June, August, October, and December), on the first Tuesday
of the month, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Meetings are held at
Providence Presbyterian Church, 5497 Providence Road.
Front
entrance: Continuous upkeep of the grass, trees, and
shrubs. Replacement of light bulbs and routine repair of the night
lights. Painting and maintenance of the white brick walls and
the black lettering. Placement of informational and seasonal signs.
Community
Yard Sale: Held annually for over 30 years (usually in
September), average participation is 40+ families.
Block
Party: Annual get together is held every year in the
Fall (usually in October) for the enjoyment of residents and their
families.
Newsletters:
Published quarterly and hand delivered, newsletters keep residents
informed regarding items of community interest. Annual events
(block party, neighborhood garage sale, Christmas tree lighting
and celebration, membership drive), city codes and regulations,
important phone numbers, etc. are included. Residents may write
letters for publication and may place ads in the newsletter.
Neighborhood
Directory: Available only to civic league members, this
voluntary, bi-annual publication is sorted both alphabetically
and by street and includes a map of the neighborhood.
Membership
Drive and Dues Collection: Annual door-to-door membership
drive, dues collection, and neighborhood directory data compilation.
VBCCO:
Maintain membership and actively participate with the Virginia
Beach Council of Civic Organizations.
Neighborhood
Watch: Comply
with the police department's annual requirements for maintaining
membership.
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Examples
of Homestead Civic League's Accomplishments
Worked
with the city to have "Cross Traffic Does Not Stop"
signs installed at the north and south bound corners of Whitehurst
Landing and Old Providence Roads.
Worked with the City to have a sidewalk constructed on Whitehurst
Landing Road between Thompson Way and Old Providence Road.
Participated in a 2005 grass-roots effort to stop the Virginia
Beach Residential Real Estate tax rate from rising above $1.20
per $100 of assessed value.
Partnered
with BSA Troop 12 to create the Homestead Heritage Garden at the
front entrance.
Took
legal action and prevented the extension of Hillview Boulevard
through to Indian River Road, preventing a major through-fare
in the middle of the neighborhood.
Fought
for and achieved building single family homes on Old Providence
instead of high density housing to be known as 'Stoney Brook Apartments'.
Halted
dumping of asphalt and hazardous waste into the borrow pit south
of Westward Drive. Also, the original plan was to fill the lake
in completely. The Civic League managed to achieve a compromise
whereby the city bought an easement from Mr. Archibell and a 200
ft. buffer will remain between Homestead and the planned development,
where homes will be built on the land created by filling in the
borrow pit.
Neighborhood
Watch: Initiated and achieved membership in the Neighborhood Watch
program.
Streetlights:
New, improved streetlights were installed due to Civic League
efforts.
Fence
between Whitehurst Grove Park and Homestead: The Civic League
convinced the city that the fence should be erected for the safety
of both neighborhoods.
City
sewage installation: Some residents had not been able to use their
home washing machine for years. Slowly (being approximately 30
years old), many septic systems were failing. The Civic League,
supported by a great majority of Homestead residents, badgered
the city long and hard enough to have it stop delaying city sewage
installation in Homestead.
Prevented
construction of a gas station and 7-11 store at the corner of
Whitehurst Landing and Old Providence Road (formerly "Providence
Road").
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