After years of being asked to write an account of how and why the Shasta Hanchett Park Neighborhood Association came into being; Jeff Rogers, currently President of the Association, convinced me it was time to tell the story.
Several decades have passed since the birth of the Shasta Hanchett Park Neighborhood Association and this account of those days may leave out some important notes of interest. But, even so, I will make every effort to include as much as I do recall. It is somewhat of a long story and is an account of an exciting, rewarding, neighborhood wide desire to preserve this very lovely neighborhood.
It was while recovering from a life altering illness and no longer working that I became aware that a number of the essentials of a neighborhood were being threatened.
How the neighborhood looked and felt was especially obvious to me since, with a cane, I could only slowly walk from my home to the then Safeway grocery store and other businesses in the shopping center at the intersection of Shasta and San Carlos. Most of us who have a job must face almost every day getting home from work for the evening meal, some family time, rest and an early start the next day with little time to really look about or notice much other than the time of day and the amount of traffic on the roadways.
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About S/HPNA Association History
About S/HPNA Association History
Association History
CHAPTER 2 - The first gathering of neighbors: who came and what happened?
Ten neighbors were left a flyer and where personal contact could be made; were told to invite others who may be interested in attending a gathering regarding the neighborhood. Since Shasta and Hanchett Avenues served as “Neighborhood Collectors” for traffic, it was residents living on these two streets that were notified. We, the late Lois Columbus and I, decided that it would be best to have the meeting on a Saturday morning at 1650 Shasta. It was held in the month of October
There were no refreshments. Our then San Jose City Councilperson, Nancy Ianni, her Aide, Linda Crabill and City Transportation Engineer, Larry Moore arrived promptly that Saturday morning as promised. Councilwoman Ianni had assured that me that even if only four people showed up she and her staff would be at the meeting! I started the meeting and, not knowing many who did come, asked each person to identify who they were, their street and house number, how many years they had lived in their home and what they liked about the neighborhood and what they did not like or was of concern to them.
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There were no refreshments. Our then San Jose City Councilperson, Nancy Ianni, her Aide, Linda Crabill and City Transportation Engineer, Larry Moore arrived promptly that Saturday morning as promised. Councilwoman Ianni had assured that me that even if only four people showed up she and her staff would be at the meeting! I started the meeting and, not knowing many who did come, asked each person to identify who they were, their street and house number, how many years they had lived in their home and what they liked about the neighborhood and what they did not like or was of concern to them.
