MHPA Meeting Tonight

Reminder that the July MHPA meeting is tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the Murray Hill Presbyterian Church on the corner of Post and Talbot.

Chevron Tank Replacement

                            

It looks like they are finally wrapping up the tank repairs at the Chevron Station on the corner of Post and Edgewood.  That project was supposed to be finished “in about a week” for the last four weeks.  I inquired as to why they had chosen to replace the tanks….was it a leak, more pumps, an upgraded system?  The employees inside didn’t have much to say except that by the year 2010 all gas stations have to upgrade to a higher standard for the underground tanks.  Further inquiry by The Hill found that in 1983 the State of Florida passed legislation to adopt rules governing underground and above ground petroleum storage tanks.  Until then, single membrane tanks were acceptable.  There was concern about potential leaks in the tanks polluting our irreplaceable aquifer.  This legislation required tanks to have a secondary compartment as a backup for the tanks.  It also requires that by 2010 all gas stations replace their existing gas tanks with those with secondary containment system.  

Why did the owner’s choose to do it now opposed to wait?  Were the existing tanks faulty now?  Neither the Department of Environmental Protection nor the Environmental Protection Agency have any complaints at this location and have merely been assessing the projects progress.  Thus, my initial reaction is the owner is getting ahead of the game while they can, or before those 2010 mandatory upgrades are changed to include more stringent restrictions on tank performance. 

Throughout the work though the retail portion of the store has remained open.  You could barely tell by the looks of the site and sales have reflected that.  The owners and employees there look forward to the projects imminent completion so they can get back to work. 

Bomb Squad

For whatever reason the bomb squad, JSO, and the fire department have blocked the intersection at Cassat Ave. and Normandy.  It appears that the BP gas station on the south west corner of the intersect is the focus.  News crews were on the scene but nothing has aired on the situation.  The most helpful information came from the Taco Bell drive-thru. 

Thai in Murray Hill

We checked out Aura Thai last night for the first time.  Pleasantly surprised is the assessment.  It has been open for about two months on the First Block across the street from Moon River Pizza.  I have been hoping for an alternative to Italian food here in Murray Hill. 

After spending about five minutes at the bar we were seated and enjoyed a bottle of wine and some pad thai.  I wanted to compare the food to Pom’s in San Marco and Aura Thai held it’s own.  The staff could not have been better and the atmosphere and décor was unique to Murray Hill. 

Autrelle, our waiter informed us that later in the evening around 10 pm there would be a live jazz band.  On the weekends Aura Thai boasts itself as a lounge with live music, thai tapas and a thorough wine lists.  Definitely A Hill recommendation.

Murray Hill Newsletter

The MHPA publishes a newsletter each month for it’s member’s.  A copy of which can be found at www.jacksonville.com where MHPA is a “community group“.  The Hill will do it’s best to post that newsletter each month.  Another periodical….it just took a little looking. 

News & Events

                                

Probably because I am new to the area I have had a hard time finding sources for current events in Murray Hill.  With some searching though I found www.murrayhillneighbors.com, the most comprehensive Murray Hill website so far.  There, I found information concerning the National Night Out Against Crime events planned for MH.  Tuesday August 1st, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Murray Hill Park at 4208 Kingsbury Street there will be a cookout and celebration to bring light to the crime fighting efforts in our neighborhood.  It looks like wholesome family fun.

Movie Shoot at Dave’s Diner

Today’s Times Union contains an article about the indie film being shot in Murray Hill.  They start shooting about 8 a.m. and finish between 4-5 p.m  ??.  During that time Post Street is being blocked off between Edgewood Ave. and it looks like Talbot Avenue.  The Hill is trying to get more details on the filming to post soon.

MHPA Meeting Location

The MHPA meeting to be held on Thursday the 27th will be at The Murray Hill Presbyterian Church on the corner of Post Street and Talbot Avenue.  The actual address is 949 Ingleside Avenue.  The meeting is set to start at 7:00 p.m.  This will be the first of hopefully many MHPA meetings for The Hill.

You have to start somewhere.

First order of business is the announcement of the Murray Hill Preservation Association (MHPA) monthly meeting on Thursday July 27.  The location will be posted soon. 

It should be troublesome to those in Murray Hill that MHPA seems to lack any organization or direction.  That may be an ignorant assessment but we will see soon at the meeting Thursday.  Murray Hill needs the MHPA to be a successful, respected voice of the neighborhood, similar to SPAR and RAP.