Terry Adams, the president of the South End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone, opened this meeting by welcoming everyone and thanking the Loft Artists' Association for hosting the meeting in their art gallery. For those not familiar with the NRZ, it was established in 1996 so that residents and businesses in the South End of Stamford could work with the government (local, state and federal) as well as public and private entities to revitalize the community.  NRZ projects have included public safety initiatives, increased economic development, job training, employment opportunities, affordable housing, incentives to promote home ownership, and educational and civic activities.
Terry introduced Lisa Cuscuna, the co-president of the LAA. Lisa welcomed the NRZ and pointed out that thee LAA has been hosting local events in the community for over 30 years.  These events include "Open Studios," art workshops, gallery tours, poetry readings, and music and dance performances.
First on the agenda was a variance application that John Hiden had submitted to the Stamford zoning board.  Mr. Hiden is the owner of 579 Pacific Street, a small existing building off 8,000 square feet on two floors.  He needs the variance to make it into an economically successful building. The NRZ has decided to support this application provided that the development complies with an approved list of potential uses and no more than 21 (total) parking spaces.  Mr. Hiden's proposal includes retail space on the ground floor with offices, an antiques gallery and a warehouse above.
John Friedman, the general counsel of Harbor Point, spoke next and gave an update on several of the projects in the South End.
--The Fairway Market, a 65,000 square feet grocery store, is expected to open in August or September of this year.
--At the Commons, office building are under construction and are expected to open next year.
--The Gateway project is underway; it will have two office buildings with direct access to the train tracks.  There will also be 200 housing units at Gateway, and 12% will be affordable.
--The Waterside School, a K-5 tuition free school, has its permits but Homestar Trucking is challenging the foundation permit.
--On the former Yale and Towne lot, the Old Mill Building is being converted into 225 residential, rental, loft apartments, with 10% affordable.  As John spoke, a lottery was being held for eleven of these subsidized lofts.  In the drawing were twenty-five qualified applicants with incomes 50% or less than the Stamford median income.  Those interested in applying for any of the subsidized housing in the South End were encouraged to email Terry Adams at terry adam@optonline.net  or trevafranks (the Director for Workforce Development at CTE) at tfranks@ctecap.org .

Treva Franks announced that Whole Foods is opening a new store in Darien in mid May.  At the end of April there will be a job fair with interviews.  In June, Fairway in Stamford will be having a job fair.  Both these stores are anxious to work with community based organizations in order to hire employees.
Frances Gerity, a South End resident and a committee member of Keep Stamford Beautiful, Inc., announced that KSB might close because of a lack of funding.  She handed out posters announcing the Great American Cleanup Day on Saturday May 22 and encouraged everyone at the meeting to participate and spread the word.
Jerome Roberts and Jonathan Wells represented the Shelter for the Homeless.  They announced that there were men available to do various kinds of work, and they passed out invitation to the Shelter's annual gala on May 5.
The evening ended with the subject the census.  Terry encouraged all of us there to contact people we know in the South End and ask them to fill out the census forms because federal dollars will be lost if the neighborhood is undercounted.