In 1970 the WEFF (Wealthy, Ethel, Fulton, and Fuller) Association formed within those street boundaries to address issues of crime and absentee landlords.

In 1973 Dr. Norbert Hruby, President of Aquinas College, began to worry about the decline of the neighborhood and the subsequent effect on Aquinas College. Hruby formed the Eastown Community Association, which replaced WEFF as a more active association.

Twenty-one neighborhood residents, who are elected annually, now govern the Eastown Community Association. The association oversees the annual Eastown Street Fair, as well as many other programs of both neighborhood and citywide importance. The association has taken an active role in crime prevention.

Most of the documents in this collection were taken from the “Eastown Community Association” vertical file. Copies of the “Eastown Access” newsletter were taken from Collection 285, Michigan and Grand Rapids Serials Collection.