2010 Chatham Square Case Study In Healthy Neighborhood Approaches To Community Development

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Case Study in the Healthy Neighborhood Approach to Community Development Chatham Square June 2010

description

Updated presentation on the use of relational culture organizing in community development work

Transcript of 2010 Chatham Square Case Study In Healthy Neighborhood Approaches To Community Development

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Case Study in the Healthy Neighborhood Approach to Community Development

Chatham Square

June 2010

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Theoretical Base Dr. Felton Earls

Longitudinal study of urban neighborhoods & crime

Local governments should support the development of cooperative efforts in low-income neighborhoods by encouraging neighbors to meet and work together

Most important influence on a neighborhood's crime rate is neighbors' willingness to act for one another's benefit, and particularly for the benefit of neighborhood children

“Cities that sow community gardens may reap a harvest of not only kale and tomatoes, but safer neighborhoods and healthier children” *

*Crime as Science (A Neighbor at a Time) Dan Hurley NYT Jan. 8, 2004 article on: Neighborhoods and violent crime: A multilevel study of collective efficacy. Science, 277:918-924 Sampson R, Raudenbush SW, and Earls F. (1997).

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FrameworkHealthy Neighborhood Approach

Image: Residents are confident about the future of the neighborhood and outsiders think it’s a good place to live and work, even if they choose not to live there

Physical Conditions: Private property reinvestment; “in-between” properties (neither obviously public nor private) are in a high state of repair (i.e. curb strips, planter boxes)

Neighborhood Management: Neighbors manage change and threats; problems that arise are solved; public institutions are held accountable and are accountable; detrimental behaviors are considered outside the “norm” and are curtailed

Market: Ideally demand exceeds supply; in-movers need to be at least as good or better for the neighborhood as out-movers while quality housing opportunities for people of modest means are maintained

Fall Creek Consulting – Health Neighborhood Group: http://www.fallcreekconsultants.com/healthy_neighborhoods.php

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Framework cont’dHealthy Neighborhood Approach

Key Components

Real Estate Market: barometer of neighborhood health Make neighborhoods places where it makes economic sense for

people to invest time, money and energy

Resident Participation: residents participate in the real estate market instead of protected from it Affordable housing as a tool for revitalization

Quality of Life Indicators: progress measured by tracking neighborhood confidence, not units of housing produced or people served Outcomes not Outputs

Self-Definition: residents define outcomes while practitioners offer insight, strategies and tools to get there Work toward achieving outcomes not delivering programs

Fall Creek Consulting – Health Neighborhood Group: http://www.fallcreekconsultants.com/healthy_neighborhoods.php

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Methodology“Relational Culture” OrganizingKey Elements

Leaders and participants get to know each other beyond tasks and agendas

People engaged around their own interests

People who know and trust each are more likely to act in each others’ interests

Community is made stronger through increased social capital investments

Sustainable Action: Planting the Seeds of Relational Organizing - Rev. Louise Green

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Getting Started

Community Foundation goals Increased urban neighborhood stabilization and revitalization Development replicable strategies

Knocked on doors; got to know residents and community

Introduced relational culture organizing and healthy neighborhood approach Activities, including meetings, are means to the end of getting

to know other residents Activities are outcome focused: improved image and/or

physical condition, impact market, manage issues

Center of relationships: “place” not problem

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Neighborhood

Fair Haven, New Haven

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Neighborhood

Fair Haven, New Haven

Chatham Square

Downtown

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Market / Community Descriptors

3,500 people

1,100 households

42% Hispanic

Median Income $33k

Solid housing stock, mostly 2 and 3 family structures

2000 census data

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Market / Community Descriptors

2007 Atwater Street Block Party

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Community Analysis What Needs Work

Drug sales out of houses and at the park

Houses in need of repair

Homeownership: lower than city average south and west of park

Public infrastructure (sidewalks, park, public lighting)

Street litter, especially on the Clinton Avenue side of the park

Traffic flow and noise

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Community Analysis

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Community AnalysisWhat Deserves Recognition Committed residents Diverse community (cultural, economic, ethnic, racial) Five parks and three gardens Historic buildings ~ residential and commercial Great 2 and 3 family housing stock Home-Buyer Incentive prgs: Yale & Mary Wade Home Proximity to bus routes, highway, waterfront, parks Three local grocery stores Two commercial corridors Rehabbed Housing Projects Elderly services ~ Mary Wade Home

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Resident-Developed Work Plan

Community-approved plan January 2007

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Results: Image

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Results: Image

Image: Residents are confident about the future of the neighborhood, and outsiders think it’s a good place to live and work, even if they choose not to live there

Neighborhood branded – 15 positive hits Channel 3 Channel 8 New Haven Register New Haven Independent

Festival in partnership with the City of New Haven Children’s photo exhibit (6-11 years)*

* Unless otherwise noted pictures in this presentation were made by neighborhood children ages 6-11

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Results: Physical Condition

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Results: Physical Condition

Physical Conditions: Private property reinvestment; “in-between” properties (neither obviously public nor private) are in a high state of repair (i.e. curb strips, planter boxes)

38 homes repaired through incentive program Partnership with homeowners and HRI

6 homes repaired w/o program assistance Investing made sense to homeowners

4 lower income homeowners offered assistance Partnership with homeowners and City of New Haven

2 Parks rec’d combined public-private support for repairs and upgrades

1st Bicycle lane in the neighborhood

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Results: Management

Pictures: New Haven Independent

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Results: Management

Neighborhood Management: Neighbors manage change and threats; problems that arise are solved; public institutions are heldaccountable and are accountable; detrimental behaviors are considered outside the “norm” and are curtailed

Community-identified problem: traffic speed, safety Community raised funds locally Foundation matched and donated City matched combined total National expert Dan Burden of Glatting, Jackson, Kercher

Anglin, Inc. conducts traffic calming study City recv’d $377,000 Federal Grant based on study in 2009

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Results: Market

“Darden said her plans are to stay in the neighborhood, get her kids enrolled in the local schools, do some home fix up. Her career plans now call for her to stay at Mary Wade, of course; she is also going to get her registered nurse’s degree, too.” (2)

(2) Quote and Photo: NH Independent

“The information I learned on the tour of Chatham Square contributed directly to the sale of a house on Atwater Street”--Bruce Peterson, Realtor, H. Pearce Realtors (1)

(1) Photo: 149 Clinton Avenue from MLS listings

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Results: Market

Market: Ideally demand exceeds supply; in-movers need to be at leastas good or better for the neighborhood as out-movers while quality housing opportunities for people of modest means are maintained

14 realtors attended neighborhood tours

3 home purchases totaling $700,000+ in sales directly connected to the neighborhood association

As of 2009, nine houses purchased with estimated combined market value over $2 million.

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Resident Survey

Baseline Survey: October 2006

Follow-up Survey: September 2007

40 resident participants

1/3 survey participants are residents who attend neighborhood meetings

2/3 self-selected (festival attendees and door knocking)

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Neighborhood Quality of Life

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Great Good So-So Bad Terrible

20062007

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Neighborhood Image

02468

101214161820

Great So-So Terrible

20062007

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Neighborhood Physical Condition

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Great Good So-So Bad Terrible

20062007

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Use of Chatham Square park

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Every day At leastonce a week

Once amonth or

more

I rarely goto the park

20062007

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Lessons Learned Identify leaders

People who get others to follow

Build on success Look for assets to build on, not problems to solve

Resident perspective Connect their dreams to your expertise

Collect and disseminate the success-affirming stories Be the bearer of the good news

New possibilities for work Linked to new people or new energy

Measure Success by outcomes, not output Quality of life, not quantity of program

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Conclusions

Worthwhile investment: $80k/yr for 3 years investment has thus far yielded $2,617,000 in private and public investments and donations, includes home purchases

Replicable and Sustainable Currently working in West River and & Hill North

neighborhoods Sustainability: www.chathamsquare.ning.com

Keys to Success Work on “place” not problem Partnerships between residents, realtors, local businesses

Needs: More study, consistent funding and tax incentives

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Chatham Square: Conclusions