The KodaVista neighborhood in Greece has much to celebrate this year. Not only are they commemorating the 91st Anniversary of the KodaVista Community Association, they are also celebrating the naming of their community to the National Register of Historic Places.
The KodaVista Community Association (KVCA) was founded in 1928 by 60 residents. It is believed that their neighborhood association is the oldest, continuous neighborhood association in Monroe county. The KodaVista neighborhood, known as The Gateway to Greece, is a community of 250 homes in the southeast portion of Greece. Jane Grant, Secretary/Treasurer of KVCA, describes the neighborhood in her book “The Story of KodaVista” as, “The KodaVista neighborhood consisted originally of the streets planned by the Kodak Employees Realty Corporation in the mid-1920s. Corona, Allerton, and Hammond were developed first while Malden, Merrick, Acton and Ayer were developed later. Vista, Hoover, Elmguard and some parts of Malden were not part of this corporation’s property but were developed independently and eventually dedicated to the town. In 1952 these street were voted into the KodaVista Community Association.”
Today the neighborhood is vibrant, multi-cultural and actively engaged in keeping their community connected. Throughout the year KVCA hosts many events including a community picnic/ice cream social, a garage sale, holiday parties, guided walks through the KodaVista Woods, garden tours, plant exchanges and block parties. For the past 30 years the KodaVista residents have gathered and created decorations of pine swags and red bows for the street corners in their neighborhood. The decorating begins the first week in December and includes swags and ribbons on 18 street corner signs.
At a recent meeting to prepare the holiday street corner decorations long time KodaVista resident and KVCA member Kathy Levine said, “Neighbors know each other here. Many of the new residents aren’t accustomed to living in a neighborhood like this. We talk with each other, wave and say hello. We watch out for each other, especially our senior citizens. When someone moves in they are warmly welcomed and we personally invited them to attend our events.” KodaVista residents Ken and Tina Zodarecky head up the Neighborhood Watch Association. Tina said, “We keep an eye on everything and are here to help when needed.”
Another KVCA member Marilyn Pease said, “I moved here in 1963 as a bride. We raised our kids here along with all the other residents. Now I am watching new, younger people moving into the neighborhood and I am the older generation. Seeing the young kids moving in is very refreshing.” Another KVCA long time member and resident Lenore Andrews said, “My daughter and her husband and four children recently bought the home across the street from us. They love the neighborhood and it is now becoming multi-generational.”
KVCA is a flexible group with a cooperative team of leaders. President of KVCA is Craig Shaw. The group meets three to five times a year at Buckman Heights Elementary School in Greece. Jane Grant said, “The Greece Central School District has been very cooperative and supportive of our organization.” KVCA has a Neighborhood Newsletter composed by Bob Watt and a Facebook page for neighborhood residents. Proving that there is power in organization a recent KVCA Newsletter contained a phone number to report potholes on NYS roads. One call to the number resulted in a repair to a huge pothole on Corona Road.
The KodaVista neighborhood is also appreciative of the support they receive from the Greece Police Department and the Greece Fire Department who take part in many of their community events.
The second reason for celebration within the neighborhood was the recent naming of the KodaVista neighborhood to the National Register of Historic Places. Jane Grant recently wrote about the honor. She said, “KodaVista was developed on farmland which was purchased by the Kodak Employees Realty Corporation in the early 1920s. The intention was to provide housing for employees, especially those working at nearby Kodak Park. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Kodak corporation was supportive of the neighborhood, for example, being lenient on repayment of mortgages during the economically depressed 1930s. Early residents represented workers from various departments at Kodak, including middle management, research, line workers, chemists, and more. Neighbors developed strong bonds during those early years. As years passed, houses were sold to people who did not necessarily work at Kodak and that sense of history and community has been passed down to the current residents. Being named to the National Register of Historic Places allows homeowners to be rewarded for making improvements to homes which retain the historic character of the structure. KodaVista is the only area in Greece to have this honor. The community association is especially grateful to Gina DiBella who guided them through the application process.”
For more information on the KodaVista Community Association email Jane Grant at janegrant4@gmail.com.
