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About us
The OHHA was founded in 1963. Historically, it was recognized as one of the pre-eminent homeowners associations in Mount Vernon, New York, advocating for quality of life issues. We invite your help, membership, and active participation. We hope you join us. Membership dues are $25 per year per household. What We Believe Oakwood Heights is one of the loveliest areas (some of us think it is the loveliest area) in Mount Vernon. When we work together, we can keep it that way and make it even better. When we stick together, we can be of help to each other. We must work with other neighborhood and tenant groups in matters that affect all of us and our City. A Voice for Oakwood Heights We meet with members of the City Council, the Mayor’s Office, the Police and Fire Departments, the Board of Education about a range of topics that directly impact our neighborhood or city. We join with other neighborhood or city groups, such as Mount Vernon Neighbors United. the Fleetwood Neighborhood Association, and the Vernon Woods Cooperatives Association, to collaborate and share resources on issues of common concern. Prior to city and school board elections, OHHA also holds "meet the candidate" forums. We have relationships with and support local realtors who share our love for the community. Quality of Life OHHA has been instrumental in maintaining and improving the quality of life in Oakwood Heights and in preventing projects and activities that would adversely affect the value of our homes. Accomplishments Blocking the establishment of a prison halfway house, additional group homes, low income housing, multi-family housing in single family zones, the building of a high density apartment building in Willson’s Woods, the conversion of Holmes school from an elementary to a middle school, erecting a parking garage at the Board of Education, the conversion of private homes to churches, the illegal conversion of private homes to multifamily dwellings, the FERC and Columbia Gas Transmission lines, prevention of commercial vehicle parking, and infill housing. Had these projects gone forward, your property values and quality of life would have plummeted. What We Do Neighborhood Maintenance and Improvement Fight against downgrading variances and zoning changes in our neighborhood and surrounding areas. Help enforce zoning regulations, work on traffic and parking conditions (parking regulations, stop signs, speed bumps, no through trucking). Meet with police on questions of safety, criminal activity, and questions of adequate protection. Help enforce garbage regulations and trash removal and encourage beautification and preservation. Politically Hold an annual meeting with candidates for local office at election time and send mass delegations to the City Council and other city planning meetings as necessary. Maintain liaison with all City departments through a City Services Committee and attendance at the regularly scheduled city meetings such as the City Council, City Planning, Zoning Board, and Architectural Review Board meetings, etc. Socially We have an annual Block Party in September and a Holiday Party in December. How We Work OHHA has an elected Executive Board consisting of the following officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Street Captains (one or two for each of our 13 streets). They are elected at the annual meeting held in June. General membership meetings are called by the Executive Board. There are 4 to 7 general membership meetings per year. The role of the Street Captain was to be each block's first and chief contact with the organization. As many of the founders and longtime members of the OHHA have retired or moved away, there is a need to revitalize and repopulate the organization. We realize that everyone is busy with work, kids, etc. However, if we can reorganize from the ground-up, block-by-block, we can be a strong and vital voice in Mount Vernon once again. Block Captains The role of the block captain is to meet with neighbors, identify issues and concerns, and facilitate neighbors getting to know one another. Additionally, the block captain welcomes new neighbors and informs them about OHHA, registers members with the OHHA and records resident contact information for the membership database. The block captain also disseminates newsletters, announcements, calls-for-action to their neighbors. The Block Captain keeps their block up to date on meetings, issues that affect the neighborhood and answers your questions on neighborhood affairs. They also relay your complaints to the OHHA. If you would like to be a block captain for your street, please contact us. Email: [email protected] Current Block Captains:
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Events: To be added to the distribution list to attend meetings and other events send email to [email protected]
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Map of Oakwood Heights
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Email: [email protected]