November 2025 General Body Mtg. Minutes

GENERAL BODY MEETING MINUTES
West End Neighborhood Development Inc.
Tuesday, November 4th, 2025, 7:00 PM
Hybrid Meeting

2025 Officers

Marquise “Tony” McNeal, President – president@atlantawestend.com
John Mitchell, 1st Vice President – firstvp@atlantawestend.com
Kimberly Carlisle, 2nd Vice President – secondvp@atlantawestend.com
Troy Farina, Treasurer – treasurer@atlantawestend.com
Dave Mardis, Secretary – secretary@atlantawestend.com
Melba T. Furlow, Recording Secretary recordingsecretary@atlantawestend.com
Kim Scott, Past President – kimscottmanagement@gmail.com
Terry Ross, Parliamentarian – t-ross01@hotmail.com

 

INTRODUCTION (Tony McNeal, President)  

CALL TO ORDER  –  7:02 PM

• Welcome
• Motion to adopt November Agenda properly seconded and approved. (Kim C. & Melba F)
  Favor: 18  Oppose: 0   Abstain: 1
• Motion to approve October 2025 Minutes properly seconded and approved. (Kim C. & Melba F)
  Favor: 17  Oppose: 0   Abstain: 3

PRESENTATIONS  –  7:07 PM

• Anthony Brown – Herman J. Russell West End Academy (HJRWEA). Mr. Brown is the social worker at HJRWEA. He extended his gratitude for the wonderful canned and nonperishable food donation today. The items were transferred to the food pantry and parent center. Mr. Brown has been SW at HRWEA for 4 years. Mr. Russell attended CAU and has MSW. Mr. Brown offered three requests for help:
  • Beautification and organization of clothing closet and food pantry
  • Attendance incentives. HJRWEA hosts weekly attendance parties at lunchtime for kids. Takis, fruit snacks, cookies, etc are distributed to students who’ve been to the school every day that week. He welcomes community members to sponsor those parties and to observe them.  53% of HRRWEA school was chronically absent last year, meaning that  53% of students had 18 or more total absences.
  • Food drives. Over 90% of HJRWEA families are relying on SNAP. Everyone is on free and reduced lunch. Mr. Brown will often go to food banks to pick up food.
  • Clothing needs – khaki pants, mesh backpacks, and coats.
• Question from 2nd VP – Why is APD no longer presenting at meetings? Answer: They are short-staffed and there’s a lot of competition, but we’re working on getting someone to come.
• One West End – 7:19
  • Demolition will start with asbestos abatement, so the public won’t see much activity on the outside. Their goal is to have this part done before June, if possible.
  • Legacy tenants have been relocated. Their space doubled but their rent stayed the same.
  • The 1st lease has already been executed for the project, which is with Planet Fitness.
  • The developer is working on multiple letters of intent right now.  ICSC conference was last week, and there are a lot of retailers who are excited.
  • The first Phase: Block 1 and Block 2
  • The second phase will include a grocery store. 
  • The building height limit is 7 stories.
• AUD+APS – Carolyn Kovar – 7:35PM. 
  • Accompanied by Will Tucker and Kelleigh Gamble
  • Rezone from SPI-21 SA7 to SPI-21 SA8
  • Density would be increased on the interior of the property, while the exterior would be lower density.
  • The parking lot would be leased, not sold, to Mr. Watkins.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT  –  7:39 PM

• The WEND Holiday party will be on Saturday, Dec. 13th at Lee+White, next to the leasing office.
• 2026 Budget – An email was sent to all the committees requesting that committees submit their budget by Dec 15th.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION  –  7:41 PM

• $20,661.03 –  October Ending Balance
• All bills have been paid for the concert. Final numbers reconciling TOH and Concert will be provided at the end of the meeting.
• There is a $6000 bill still to be paid to GA Works in November.

   COMMITTEE REPORTS  –  7:42 PM

• Education Committee – Krista Verdelotti, Co-Chair
  (Education does not have a standing meeting, but communicates by text chain. If you’d like to join, email WENDeducation@gmail.com)
  • There will be no school the week of Thanksgiving (Nov 24-28)
  • School Board runoff would be on Dec 2nd, (which will also be next WEND meeting)
  • Massive facilities plan for school closures. There are meetings for this, one is tomorrow. Another is Nov 6th at 7pm at MAJ. There’s also a food distribution at MAJ that’s open to the community on Nov 19th, and it includes lots of fresh food.
  • In 2024, 7 kids between 3 families got their gifts. 100+ hygiene items were given to HJRWEA. 6 emancipated youth at BTW were also given gifts
  • HJRWEA is looking for coats, deodorant, joggers, mesh bookbags.
  • It’s apply to college month – application fees are waived!
• Environmental Health & Beautification – Kristen Koehnemann
  (Does not have a standing meeting, but if you’d like to join, email WENDbeautification@gmail.com) and visit the committee page

• Friends of the Parks Groups
  • RCP – Filing extension for placemaking project. Sidewalk painting timeline is getting pushed to spring.
  • Howell Park – Finished putting playground equipment
  • West End – Still working with a donation of $100k from Jason Dozier’s office, along with another grant from Park Pride to do a Master Plan for West End Park.

• Events – Doug Cain
  (Does not have a standing meeting, but if you’d like to join, email wendevents@gmail.com)
  • Dropped flyer for holiday party

• PR – Brittney Cain
  (Does not have a standing meeting, but if you’d like to join, email AtlantaWestEndPR@gmail.com)
  • Thanks everyone for participating in the trick or treat map.
  • Also thanks everyone for all of their donations for the trick or treat drive, which went to H.J. Russell West End Academy.

• Membership – Open Chair Position
  (Meets virtually on second Tuesdays via zoom. More information on committee page
  • We need a new membership chair. Our membership numbers have been really good this year and we want to keep it up!

• • Preservation & Urban Design – Caleb Racicot
    (Meets the first and/or third Wednesdays at 6:30 PM, as needed. If you’d like to join, email WENDPreservation@gmail.com)
    • Will be reviewing 1341 Latham
    • 1029 Oak Street – The applicant has applied for financial hardship variance for their wooden retaining wall.
  • Zoning – Larry Frazer 7:53pm
    • On Monday, Zoning Cmte had a lively discussion regarding Peeples St rezoning. Rezoning from low-density to medium-density. Recommendation from committee was to defer until 4 questions are answered:
      • Clarity of community benefits of zoning change, which is on pg 3 of executive summary of last community meeting
      • Appropriate public notification signage on the property that there will be a zoning hearing. Zoning cmte meeting was on 29th, and signs weren’t posted until the 30th.
      • How the city would handle wildlife and trees on the property
      • Clearer framework on how the community would remain engaged as the project moved forward.
    • Motion from committee is to defer until those 4 questions are satisfied by the committee. Call for questions/discussion.
      • AUD+APS responded by email to the Zoning Cmte meeting Chair to questions that were submitted by the Zoning Cmte. Those answers will be shared at the next Zoning Cmte. meeting.
      • Favor: 22  Oppose: 3   Abstain: 3

• Public Safety Chair – Alex McBride

• • We have a new Public Safety Chair!
  • Alex was born and raised in West End. Her parents live on Culberson St.. She lives on Dargan. Her background and expertise is in Urban Resilience and Climate Change. When we talk about public safety, there are many ways that we can think about improving quality of life. It’s not just crime, but also access to power, community cohesion, and feeling safe, which isn’t just about policing. Alex will work with Tony and WEND leadership about a clear mission. 
• Transportation – Matt Hawkins
  (Meets the third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM. For more info, visit the transportation committee page
  • Did a field trip to the Atlanta City Council candidate forum at Underground Atlanta. The committee members took MARTA to it.
  • Atlanta is going to start working on its transportation plan. We’ll be looking forward to opportunities to work with them on that.

CITY REPRESENTATIVES & ELECTED OFFICIALS 8:15 PM  

• Atlanta City Council District 4, Jason Dozier’s Office. DeMicha Luster – Director of Community Engagement. Office Contact 404-290-2174. dluster@atlantaga.gov. 
  • APD is in West End behind Krispy Kreme while their precinct gets renovated.
  • Significant progress on Oglethorpe. There is a tree that’s messing up a sidewalk – and the office is working on fixing it. They’ve gotten a quote, and it’s very expensive, but they’re working on it.

WRAP-UP & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Kiley with Gordon White Parkside is conducting a food drive between Nov 10th and Dec 5th. Contact dfoy@ackermanco.net for more info. 

ADJOURN 8:23 PM

 

Draft Minutes Completed on 11/10/25  by DM