Changes in the wind

When I was a child, one of my favorite toys was a snow globe. When I shook it, the snow fell randomly at various spots within that miniature universe. I thought about the snow globe and the idea of not knowing where the snow would fall when I shook the globe while I was considering how to illustrate the changes now underway within the Chestnut Hill Business Association and the Chestnut Hill Community Association.

The changes in the wind for both organizations are not so extreme that a drawing should depict a Battle of Lexington-esque scene, but, if approved, the changes will certainly alter the landscape.

Commercial property owners are being asked to consider a 12 percent surcharge on their real estate taxes in order to pay for projects that strengthen the local economy, enhance physical appearance and improve parking and traffic circulation. With this surcharge would come a stronger relationship between the Chestnut Hill community and the municipal government because the district city councilperson is responsible for introducing legislation to City Council and would sit on the Business Improvement District board.

This relationship is opposite from that which influenced the founding of the Business Association and the Community Association in the 1950s. For decades, the organizations worked to do things independently from the city government to create and maintain the business and residential communities. In recent years, the need to relate well with the city has become more obvious. Examples of city-neighborhood partnership including collaboration on building a bridge that fits properly into a National Historic District and calling a city councilperson to get Department of Aging assistance for elderly residents.

The changes being considered within the CHCA have nothing to do with the city, but in terms of structure, it’s possible that there would be a big difference. Among the ideas being considered are reducing the size of the board of directors and changing the ratio of elected directors to appointed directors. These may not seem major but whatever is decided — keeping the system the way it is or changing it — will influence what decisions are made, by whom and for whom, and therefore the future of Chestnut Hill. It’s hard to say now where the snow will fall.

Katie Worrall