Monthly News & Updates September 2026, Issue 29 - Forest Hills Gardens Corporation

FHGC September 2026 Newsletter

Forest Hills Gardens Corporation

Monthly News & Updates

September 2026

Letter from FHGC President Bruce Eaton

Dear FHGC Neighbors,

Homeowners ought to have received a physical copy of the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget to review and the blue proxy card to vote upon the budget. If you have not received this important mail, please contact the FHGC office.

Previous correspondence has noted that there is a proposal to hire a management company to strengthen day to day operations of the FHGC and preserve the Board’s role in setting priorities and representing

the community. A professional structure would give the Gardens more consistent execution, better long-term planning, and stronger accountability for the services and standards residents expect.

I wanted to provide some additional insight into the purpose of potentially hiring a management company. Simply put, the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation can, and should, do better. This is not a knock on the work of any Boards, past or present, but simply an acknowledgement of the limitations in having a rotating set of volunteers fully immersed in daily operations. Fire Departments, ambulance services and conservation groups used to largely be volunteer but over time most have switched to professionally run organizations. There are very few remaining organizations with 24/7, 365 days a year responsibilities that are operationally dependent on volunteers.

Professional management is by no means a new or unique idea. I first heard it from a homeowner on Markwood Road in 2006 at the Budget Meeting. The Board also hired a Property Manager (the same role being proposed now, but with more resources) in 2016. That experience will help inform our current needs and how they need to be met.

Over the course of decades, there are FHGC systems and projects that would have benefitted from professional expertise. These projects are viewed with the benefit of hindsight and with deep appreciation of the volunteer FHGC Board members who made the best decisions they could. A few examples follow.

Ensure the growth and engagement of our paid team; rather than a series of rotating managers with different styles and inconsistent training
Restore our parks to better reflect Olmsted’s original vision
Ensure all houses and exterior renovations meet Gardens standards
Restore private lanes and parks that the Gardens has responsibility for, starting with understanding which lanes those are
Improve maintenance of our curb plots; many of which are partially barren and maintained by adjacent homeowners
Prepare and budget for the oncoming aging out and increasing failure of trees from climate change in our canopy and react more swiftly to damage from storms
Ensure our sidewalks and curbs match the aesthetic standards of the community
Update our technology inside the office and of our equipment; increase the use of online services
Gain cost efficiencies through greater buyer power, a larger set of 3rd party resources and more rigorous bidding
Better protect the larger community from any FHGC member from acting on their own self-interest at the expense of the neighborhood

The Gardens is a world-class neighborhood with a high quality of life, and it would not be that way without the countless hours of work, incredible passion and energy and the talents of those who have served the FHGC over the years. This Board believes that a stronger operational structure will make it possible for us to achieve and maintain high standards going forward.

Sincerely,

Bruce Eaton

The Bloom Project:

FH High School Pollinator Initiative

By: Kayla Neale, Yeshi Pasang, Andrew Dong

Tree lined streets, beautiful parks, colorful gardens. Living in Forest Hills Gardens means we have an arboretum right outside our own doors. Our neighborhood already boasts an unusual amount of biodiversity for a city, however, there’s more that we can do to support our local ecosystem.

As seniors of Forest Hills High School, we have found through extensive research that pollinators are an essential part of a healthy ecosystem, yet one of the most threatened pillars of the environment. Pollinators, such as bees, birds, bats, and butterflies, support many flowers, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. In fact, as pollinator populations decrease, the price of produce tends to increase. That means that with a lack of pollinators, comes less access to healthy food, and therefore an impact on human health.

Although the parks and many yards in Forest Hills Gardens have beautiful sprawling green lawns and colorful annual flowers, these yards don’t necessarily support biodiversity or ecosystems.

So how can we protect the mighty pollinators? One important answer lies in the plants we choose to grow. Native plants (plants that naturally occur in a specific region) play an important role in supporting the pollinators that help keep local ecosystems healthy. Because native plants have evolved over thousands of years alongside local insects and animals, they provide the specific food and habitat these species need to survive. Even one plant in a yard or pot can help. Some native plants you can plant in Forest Hills Gardens include black eyed susans, cone flowers, aster, bee balm, goldenrod, azaleas, milkweed, eastern columbine, oak leaf hydrangeas, cardinal flowers, woodland phlox, wild bergamot, and more! (These are some of our favorites!)

We created the Bloom Project to engage our community in supporting pollinators and native plants in Forest Hills. Working with elementary school students at P.S. 101, campers at CITG Community House, and seniors at Atria Senior Living has been amazing to see how Forest Hills Gardens can come together to improve the world around us.

The next time you take a trip to your local plant nursery or go online, remember to consider the pollinators and go with some natives! You will end up with a beautiful yard, fluttering bees and butterflies, while contributing to a healthier local ecosystem! Be(e) a native plant gardener!

Upkeep Committee Update:

Storm Drains

The Upkeep Committee has been working this summer to ensure that some deferred maintenance on our Storm Water system was addressed. We had a Vactor truck clean out over 88 Drainage Structures which included every single Stormwater Drainage Manhole within the Gardens. These structures are located at many corners throughout the neighborhood but blend into the sidewalk, with their scrubbed pebble finish, that you may not even notice them. The manhole structures range in depth from approximately 7 to 10 feet deep, and they collect dirt and silt that spill over from the catch basins that feed into them. Additionally, a number of drainage lines were cleaned and cleared of debris with a high-pressure water hose known as a jet rod. This much needed maintenance removed over 100,000 pounds of debris which was impacting the efficacy of our storm water system. There is more work to be done on our storm water system as we investigate ways to minimize the impacts of flash flood rain events on the FHGC community.

FY’27 Budget Meeting Reminder

The FHGC fiscal year 2027 budget has been delivered to our homes – now it’s time to submit questions (to info@fhgc.org), send in your proxy vote and plan to attend the budget meeting on Tuesday September 15^th at the Community House at 7:30pm. This year’s budget includes 5.5% maintenance and decal increases and the funds necessary to hire a professional management company.

Community House Celebrates 100^th Anniversary

The Community House hosted a special event on Saturday, August 15^th to commemorate a Century of Community, Tradition and Connection. State Senator Joseph Addabbo presented a proclamation recognizing the exceptional contribution that the CH has made to our community and Rob Hof spoke of the founding of the CH and the role his family played. Everyone in attendance recalled what the Community House has meant to their families – from nursery school, after school and summer camp to scouting, yoga classes, the Women’s Club and Men’s Club and of course the newly renovated pool.

Gas Line Upgrades Completed

Nine years after they started digging up our streets, the National Grid gas line upgrade project is finally being completed in Forest Hills Gardens. Each summer for almost a decade we have endured closed roads and traffic detours as the old underground pipes have been replaced with high density polyethylene higher pressure pipes which are more durable and less prone to leaks. When completed temporary road patches were installed to be replaced the next year with full paving of those streets. A huge benefit to FHGC is that our entire community is being repaved at National Grid’s expense – a total value of $5MM! Given asphalt streets tend to last 15-20 years, we will likely have to begin paving again at our expense in about five years.

Planning to Replace Your Windows?

Window replacement is one of the most expensive—and potentially complicated—home improvement projects in Forest Hills Gardens. Because our historic area has specific architectural requirements, homeowners should confirm that the window brand, materials, design, and configuration are approved before placing an order. Installing noncompliant windows may result in a violation and require costly corrective work or replacement.

To avoid unnecessary expenses and delays in the approval process, please contact the FHGC Office and meet with a member of the Architectural Committee before ordering your windows. The office can also connect homeowners with contractors familiar with FHGC requirements. A brief conversation early in the process can help ensure compliance and prevent frustration later.

Upcoming Community Events

Tuesday, September 15th: Annual Budget Meeting at Community House

Forest Hills Gardens Communication Committee:

Susan Gregg (co-chair), Ross Peyser (co-chair),

Monika Bialokur, Bob Hofman, Karen Koffler, Steve Silberberg (photo editor)

Visit our Website at FHGC.org