Our Entrances Matter

Our subdivision entrances are a vital part of our neighborhood identity. They signal that we take pride in the place we live, that we're not just a collection of streets and houses. The most visibly prominent entrance into our neighborhood is on Melrose Blvd: twin brick structures with impressive curves and decorative gates. If I'm reading old documents correctly, they appear to have been constructed in the early 1990's through a funding push by the Melrose Civic Association.

On the evening of January 31st, a vehicle crashed into one of these structure on the west side of Melrose Blvd. The structure was struck at the 12 ft. tall column closest to the road and was pushed forward several inches from its original position during the impact. The top part of the column separated and shifted several inches. Other parts of the structure were damaged and cracked in several places.

Fortunately, with the help of our security patrol, we were able to dig up the police report for this incident. The Civic Association filed a claim with the driver's insurance for damages, totaling $9000.

We received payment for the damages and hired seasoned masonry expert Calvin Dudley (who rebuilt the pillar on Hermitage Drive in 2024) to restore it to it's former glory. Calvin's crew began work on April 7th and knocked it out in 3 days.

Thanks to Steve Gremillion and Wilbert Rideau for their help.

David West