Fordham Progressive Block Club

Fordham Progressive Block Club

The History of Fordham Street

The land and area that Fordham Street is located was once owned by Alexander Grant. On April 16, 1816, his will was filed and it was placed in Probate court in the Province of Upper Canada, on August 21, 1825.

Mr. Grant left his land to his son, Alexander, and daughters Archange, Phillis, Isabella, Elizabeth, Maria, Nelly, Jane, and Ann.

Over a course of time, this land with through several land owners, court sessions and was finally sold and managed by East Pointe Land Company on June 24, 1924.

Fordham was formally known as "Chesterton Avenue" and Rex was formally known as "Conrad Avenue". This name change came about in 1924.

After the selling of this land to East Pointe Land Company several agreements came about, just to list a few:

*No building shall be erected on any lot until the design and location thereof have been approved in writing by a committee appointed by the subdivider or elected by a majority of the owners of the lots in said subdivision. However, in the event that such committee is not in existence or fails to approve or disapprove such design or location with 30 days, then such approval will not be required provided the design and location on the lot conform to and are in harmony with exisiting structures in the subdivision. In any case either with or without the approval of the committee, no dwelling costing less than $4,500 on Fordham Avenue and $5,000 on Saratoga Avenue and Eastwood Avenue shall be permitted on any lot in the subdivision and the ground floor square foot area thereof shall not be less than 625 square feet in the case of a one story structure, nor less than 525 square feet in the case of a one and one-half or two story structure.


*No noxious or offensive trade shall be carried upon any lot nor shall anything be done thereon which may be or become an annoyance or nuisance to the neightborhood.

No trailer, basement, tent, shack, garage, barn, or other out-buildings erected in the subdivision shall at any time be used as a residency temporarily or permanently, nor shall any residence of a temporary character be permitted, and that none but ornamental fences shall be built upon or around any building lot or plot, an no fences shall be built in front of the building line of said lot or plot.

This next point is an important point for Black History it provide documentation of where we were and how much we have gained:

*That none of the lots, or any part thereof, of said subdivision shall be leased, owned or occupied by any person not of the Caucasian or white race, for a period of 99 years from and after January 1, 1938, excepting that this covenant shall not prevent occupancy by domestic servants not of the caucasian or white race employed by the owner or tenant.

Fordham Progressive Block Club

Fordham Progressive Block Club was originally initiated by Mr. Robert Newton in the early part of 2000. He had a goal to organize and bring the neighbors together. After each attempt, he brought an additional person to attend on of many meetings that were held. During the summer of 2001, Fordham had their first block club party. It was a success. Just with his vision along, it have progressed into an organization with an elected Board of Directors. We have dedicated every second Tuesday of each month to have an Executive Meeting and every fourth Tuesday to hold General Meetings. So we are on an upward move.

This is just the beginning of a neighborhood joining together not only to combat crime, but also opening the communication line and getting to know one another.

Goals

Over the course of several meetings the Executive Board with the help of the residents of Fordham Avenue, we have established some goals for the year of 2002.

1. Closure of the alley located between Fordham Avenue and East 7 Mile Road. Between Rex and Morang Street.

2. Installing a Fordham Avenue Block Club sign on the corner of Morang/Fordham and Kelly/Fordham.

3. 75% attendance at General Meeting.

About our association

2001/2002 Board of Directors

President
Joy L. Curry
Vice President
Robert Newton
Recording Secretary
Marcelles Newton
Corresponding Secretary
Nicole McClendon
Rodney Warmsby
Treasurer
Margie Cartwright
Sergeant-At-Arms
Roland Chandler

2001/2002 By-Laws

Fordham Progressive Block Club

BY-LAWS FOR 2001 – 2002


1. This block club shall be called Fordham Progressive Block Club.


RULE 1 – PROCEDURE

The term of office will be fifteen (15) months for the position of President and Vice-President. The last three- (3) months of that term will serve as support for the oncoming elected President and Vice-President.

The term of the Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Sergeant-At-Arms will be twelve (12) months.

At the end of each term all records and bank statements shall be turned over to the new elected officers in November.


RULE 2 – ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Elections for Board of Directors will be held in October.

All Board of Directors seats is open for nominations.


RULE 3 – DUES

Membership dues are $5.00 (five dollars) per household each month.


RULE 4 – VOTING PROCEDURES

Voting for Board of Director positions will be done by nomination.

Voting for any committees will be directed to the BOD (Board of Director) and voting by show of hands.

All voting will be by show of hands.


RULE 5 – MEETING SCHEDULES

Executive meetings will be held every second Tuesday of each month.
General meetings will be held every fourth Tuesday of each month.



RULE 6 – COMMITTEES

Vice-President will chair all sub-committees.

Board of Directors will select committees and selected committees is open for volunteers from the general public.


RULE 7 – RULES OF ORDER GOVERNING MEETINGS

Sergeant-At-Arms will keep the meetings to its order of business, handle discussions in an orderly way. Give all members a chance to speak. Keep all speakers to the rules.


RULE 8 – PROCEDURES ON HANDLING AND DISTRIBUTING FUNDS

The block club funds will be deposit at Comerica Bank.

The President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary will be on the signature card.

The President will be responsible to verify the bank statement monthly.

The Treasurer will provide a financial statement every month.

No funds will be withdrawal from the bank without the acknowledgement of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors must vote on any disbursements of funds.

All withdrawals will require two signatures from any two of the following: President, Treasurer or Secretary. The Vice-President can only sign in the absent of any of the previous listed officers.


RULE 9 – AMENDMENT BY-LAWS

Any amendment to the by-laws must be directed to the Board of Directors and will be voted on.