DNA’s Top Priority Is Saving Theater
The Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) has listed saving the Franklin Cinema as its number one priority for 2007-08.
Discouraging commercial encroachment into residential areas, working closely with the Historic Zoning Commission, advocating for the Streetscape economic development project, and monitoring planning for a new City Hall are the neighborhood organization’s other top five priorities.
DNA, the neighborhood association of the original 15-block area of historic downtown Franklin, is hosting a fish fry September 8 to encourage the public to meet all of the mayoral and aldermanic candidates in the October Franklin city election, followed by a candidates forum September 13 in the Franklin City Hall board room.
The public is welcome at both events. Admission to the 6 p.m. fish fry September 8 at the home of Joy and John Morris, 204 Third Avenue South, is $15 per person, while admission to the candidates forum 6 p.m. September 13 is free.
“Regardless of where we live in Franklin, we care deeply about your neighborhood, and we want elected representatives who will protect and improve life in that neighborhood,” said David Morris, DNA president.
“We’re hosting these two candidate events because we want to ensure that our mayor and aldermen share our passion about keeping Franklin one of the best places to live in America.”
“Our historic neighborhood is particularly fragile because of the delicate balance of residential, commercial, and governmental uses, but every neighborhood in Franklin, new or old, cares about preserving Franklin’s quality of life,” said Morris.
As voted on by the full DNA membership, the DNA’s 2007-08 priorities are as follows:
1. Cinema: Continue to work closely with the Heritage Foundation and interested
individuals and businesses to encourage re-opening of Franklin Cinema.
2. Discourage commercial encroachment: Discourage the further encroachment of
commercial uses into downtown neighborhood/ encourage the expansion of
residential uses downtown.
3. Historic Zoning: Continue to work closely with the Historic Zoning Commission
encourage appropriate renovation, infill construction, and additions downtown.
4. Streetscape: Continue to advocate for the ongoing funding of Streetscape.
5. City Hall: Continue to monitor meetings of the city Building Committee to insure
appropriate redevelopment and new construction on the City Hall site, including
appropriate temporary city headquarters.
The purpose of the DNA, which is now celebrating its tenth anniversary year, is to help residents of Franklin’s original 15-block downtown area exercise greater control over the economic, political, environmental and social forces that influence our way of life; to promote understanding among property owners, residents, government and business interests; to foster neighborhood identity and a sense of community; to cooperate and affiliate in appropriate ways with other local, state and national organizations having compatible goals.
